Defined: Why Lionel Messi didn’t function in Argentina’s 4-1 thrashing of Brazil in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Defending champions Argentina celebrated their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 4-1 thrashing of arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. ‘La Albiceleste’ have been by far the standout crew within the CONMEBOL leg of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, profitable 10 out of the 14 matches that they’ve performed up to now with one draw and three losses and a stable Purpose Distinction (GD) of 18.

Argentina at present take pleasure in a sizeable lead on the prime of the South American standings with 31 factors, eight factors forward of Ecuador and 10 greater than Uruguay, Brazil an Paraguay – who’ve collected 21 factors every.

The three-time world champions had already been assured of a spot within the FIFA World Cup Finals after Bolivia held Uruguay to a goalless draw earlier on Tuesday. The Argentines would then have a good time even tougher after Julian Alvarez (4’), Enzo Fernandez (12’), Alexis Mac Allister (37’) and Giuliano Simeone (71’) breached the Brazilian defence throughout their dominant victory.

🚨📉 Brazil have zero wins of their final 5 video games towards Argentina, with just one purpose scored and seven conceded.

Brazil additionally conceded 4 objectives final night time for the primary time of their historical past in World Cup Qualifiers. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/YjsY3Qof0E

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 26, 2025

The night would have been much more forgettable for ‘Selecao Canarinho’ had it not been for Mattheus Cunha capitalising on Cristian Romero’s blunder to attain Brazil’s solely purpose within the twenty sixth minute and half their deficit.

A notable absence in Tuesday’s match at Estadio Monumental was star ahead Lionel Messi, who had performed a significant position in ending Argentina’s 36-year watch for a 3rd world title in Qatar in 2022.

Why Lionel Messi didn’t function in Argentina’s 4-1 victory over Brazil 

Inter Miami star Messi sat out of Tuesday’s blockbuster World Cup Qualifying fixture because of an harm. The 37-year-old had been neglected of Argentina’s squad because of a ‘low grade’ adductor harm that he had picked up throughout Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United of their Main League Soccer (MLS) fixture on Monday, 17 March.

Messi was on the pitch for your entire period of the sport, during which he scored the equaliser for The Herons within the twentieth minute – 9 minutes after Atlanta seized the lead. Haitian winger Fafà Picault later ensured Miami collected full factors from the fixture with an 89th-minute winner.

Messi’s absence, nevertheless, was hardly felt by the Argentines as Lionel Scaloni’s males romped to a dominant victory over the five-time world champions.