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Argentina and Brazil squared off against each other in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the Maracana Stadium on Tuesday night as the 2022 World Cup winners defeated the record five-time champions 1-0. While it was Brazil's first home loss in the World Cup qualifiers, the match was headlined by the massive brawl that broke out in the stands that led La Albiceleste to walk off the pitch.
After the Brazil police appeared to hit the Argentine fans with batons, Lionel Messi, who extended his record to eight Ballon d'Or awards last month, took his team to the locker room ahead of the kick-off to stop the violence. As they were moving through the tunnel, Argentina players, including Angel Di Maria, were involved in a heated altercation with the fans.
Just before, heading towards the tunnel, fans appeared to hurl glasses and drinks at the Argentina star midfielder and his teammates. Di Maria responded by spitting at the fans while his teammates also exchanged words. However, the fight didn't escalate as the players went to the locker room.
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Apart from the violent conduct by the police against the Argentine fans, the visiting team also received abuse from the Brazilian fans. Argentina captain Messi also reflected on the brutal aggression of the security forces at the Maracaná and said in Spanish, which can be translated to, "We saw how they were hitting the people, as happened in the final of the Libertadores. Again repressing the people."
