Few teams have been able to keep the legendary attacker quiet, but his next opponent has been one of the best at doing so
Throughout his career, few teams have been able to really stop Lionel Messi. It’s one of the reasons he’s in this famous GOAT conversation, after all. No matter the level, no matter the competition, Messi’s record speaks for itself. With the World Cup now in his back pocket, there isn’t much left to hold against him.
Messi’s record, however, isn’t spectacular against everyone. A very small number of sides have been able to stop him, and one of them just so happens to be his next opponent in CONMEBOL’s biggest game.
Fresh off a disappointing loss to one up-and-comer, Uruguay, Messi will lead Argentina against Brazil on Tuesday in a clash of South America’s titans. Historically, Argentina are one of the few teams that can even compete with the famous Selecao. Brazil have more World Cups, but Argentina have more senior titles. It’s a rivalry that’s so good mostly because it has been so even.
It hasn’t been for Messi, though. Brazil have largely been able to put a muzzle on the diminutive Argentine and, as they head into the next chapter of their historic rivalry, it may take the Messi magic that has often been missing for the world champions to escape the Maracana with a positive result.
A historic rivalry
Few countries can put their resumes on the table against Brazil and Argentina, two of the premier national teams in the game since these sorts of competitions began.
On one side, you have Brazil, winners of five World Cups. They also have four Confederations Cups, two Olympic medals and nine U-20/U-17 World Cups to their name, as well as nine Copa America titles.
The one team with more Copas America? Argentina, who claimed their 15th title in 2021 with a famous victory in Brazil. That was Messi’s first senior international trophy, and it paved the way for the success in Qatar one year later.
In terms of head-to-head, the two sides are relatively even. Brazil have won 43 of the 109 meetings between the two, with Argentina claiming 40. Until the Copa America final in 2021, though, Brazil reigned supreme when it mattered, winning six consecutive knockout clashes between the two dating back to 1995.
Argentina’s win in the Copa America has only levelled up the rivalry, although it’s one that has never really seen the best of Messi.
Messi’s record vs Brazil
It doesn’t need to be explained how good Messi’s international record is, but we’ll do it anyway: 106 goals in 125 caps, a World Cup, a Copa America, an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Youth Championship title. Messi’s now done just about everything there is to do.
One of the few places he’s struggled, though, is Brazil. It’s not that his record is bad, because, realistically, it isn’t. But, by his standards, Messi has struggled a bit when staring down the famous yellow shirts.
In 13 career games against Brazil, Messi has just five goals. An okay haul, sure, but not quite up to his usual standards. Argentina are just 6-6-1 in matches vs Brazil with Messi in the XI.
However, a look at those five goals offers a better glimpse into the real situation. Three of his five goals came in the same friendly: a June 2012 win in the U.S. Another came in a 2010 friendly in Qatar, an interesting preview of what was to come over a decade later. The last came in the 2019 Superclasico de los Americas, which was held in Saudi Arabia.
Messi has never scored against Brazil, either home or away, in South America. He’s also never scored against Brazil in World Cup qualifying, and the Selecao is the only opponent he has not defeated in a World Cup qualifier.
Why Messi has struggled
There’s a pretty easy answer to this question. It doesn’t take much thought to figure out why Messi’s goalscoring record isn’t particularly great against Brazil, and that’s because the Selecao are, in fact, very, very good.
There’s never any sort of dropoff from Brazil, who have no rebuilding eras or generational shifts. It’s a constant pipeline of talent flowing through the national team that keeps them permanently fixed to the top of the international game.
Defenders like Thiago Silva and Marquinhos would never have been too starstruck seeing Messi on the other side, nor is relative newcomer Eder Militao, a Real Madrid star. Legendary fullbacks like Dani Alves and Marcelo frequently made Argentina uncomfortable. A midfield shield like Casemiro, who has been at the top of that position for so long, is not one to be intimidated, either.
That’s the easy answer: quality. From top to bottom, Brazil are always one of the most talented teams in the world. It hasn’t been without controversy, though, with Messi once saying he believed there was something more foul going on.
After being eliminated at the hands of Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semifinals, Messi accused CONMBEOL of corruption in favor of Brazil. His accusation came after he was controversially sent off in Argentina’s 2-1 win over Chile in the third place match, with Messi refusing to take part in the festivities after.
“We don’t have to be part of this corruption,” Messi said at the time. “They have showed us a lack of respect throughout this tournament. Sadly, the corruption, the referees, they don’t allow people to enjoy football, they ruined it a bit. I think the cup is fixed for Brazil. I hope that the VAR and the referees have nothing to do in this final and that Peru can compete because they have the team to do so although I think it’s difficult.”
Then-Brazil boss Tite hit back after Brazil’s triumph.
“You have to have a little more respect and be careful,” Tite said. “We played clean against Argentina. Messi was unfairly sent off against Chile. It was a yellow card. But be careful.”
It only added a bit more spice to the rivalry, which remains as hot as any in South America due to the level on the field.
A mixed history at the Maracana
Prior to the World Cup in Qatar, the Maracana was the site of Messi’s greatest international triumph. It was also the site of his greatest career disappointment.
The famous venue was the host of the 2014 World Cup final, Messi’s first crack at winning that golden trophy. We all know how it went: Messi and Argentina had their hearts broken at the death, with Mario Gotze etching his name in history as Germany lifted the trophy.
Seven years later, it was Messi’s turn, as an Angel Di Maria goal led Argentina to a stunning win over Copa America hosts Brazil. The sight of Argentina lifting Messi into the air was a defining moment of his career, even if it was soon usurped by the images of him in Qatar.
That fact wasn’t lost on Messi, who believed it was divine intervention that put Argentina in the Maracana that night.
“Coincidences don’t exist,” he said in his prematch speech ahead of the 2021 Copa America final. “This tournament had to be played in Argentina and do you know why? Because God brought it here so we win here in the Maracana for all of us. So let’s go out there with confidence, with cool heads, and let’s win this trophy. Come on boys!”
The stadium remains the site of one of Messi’s greatest moments and the worst of his career as he prepares for what may just be his last ever match at the Maracana.
The situation heading in
As we head toward Tuesday’s match, it seems pretty safe to say we’ll see Brazil and Argentina in the 2026 World Cup. Brazil has never missed the tournament, and Argentina has been a part of every World Cup since 1970.
So there aren’t really any concerns there, particularly for Argentina. Through five games, Messi and co. have 12 points, with their perfect streak ended last week at the hands of second-place Uruguay. Marcelo Bielsa’s side became the first to score on the world champions since the World Cup final in France, and, better still, also became the first team to beat Argentina since Saudi Arabia in the first match in Qatar.
For Brazil, though, qualifiers have been rocky, to say the least. As things stand, Brazil sit fifth, with just seven points through five matches. They drew with Venezuela last window before losing to Uruguay and then opened this international break with a 2-1 loss at Colombia.
Because of that, things are a bit tense for the Selecao, who aren’t used to finding themselves midtable in CONMEBOL. There’s plenty of time left and plenty of room for error, with six of the 10 teams qualifying automatically and a seventh headed to an inter-confederation play-off.
This match, though, will feel important for all involved. For Argentina, it’s a chance to further prove that they’re kings of South America and, for Brazil, it’s a chance to remind everyone of who they are, despite the recent struggles.
What Messi has to say
Despite the loss to Uruguay, and the mammoth task of heading into Brazil, Messi remains relatively calm.
He’s backed Argentina to react to the loss, one that will have reminded them that they are human, after all, despite going a year without tasting defeat.
“We haven’t lost for a long time and there was the possibility of that happening,” Messi said. “Now we have to react. We’ve known from the start that the qualifiers are very difficult and that we could lose at any moment. And now we’re going to a difficult ground, the Maracana, against a team that hasn’t been doing well lately, that lost to Uruguay, that lost again [against Colombia].
“The people in Brazil are very demanding of the national team, so it’s going to be a great test for us. Matches against Brazil are always special. We just want to keep growing, to keep improving, and to get back to winning ways, which is the most important thing.”
For Argentina to get back to those winning ways, they may once again need to rely on the brilliance of Messi. Despite his advancing years, he’s as important as ever to how his national team plays. Heading into the Maracana is never easy, and Messi will know that well as he looks to put to rest any criticism about his record against his fiercest international rival.
