Watch: Lionel Messi Stunned As Police Hit Argentina Fans With Sticks In World Cup Qualifier vs Brazil

22.11.2023 - 06:09 sports.ndtv.com

World Champions Argentina edged out rivals Brazil 1-0 in an ill-tempered World Cup qualifier at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

The kick-off of was delayed by around 30 minutes on Tuesday after clashes between Brazil and Argentina supporters. The much-anticipated clash between South American football's two superpowers was due to kick off at 9.30pm local time (00:30 GMT Wednesday) but was held up after disturbances in the stands.

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez tried to jump into the seating area at one stage to confront a baton-wielding Brazilian police officer.

Selvageria no Maracana #brasil #argentina pic.twitter.com/Azz8RKE47p pic.twitter.com/DDmVG31PHH Several Argentina players went towards the disturbances in an apparent attempt to plead for calm, before captain Lionel Messi took his teammates inside the tunnel. "We're not playing, we're leaving," Messi was heard as saying while leaving the pitch.

Football cup qualifier as watch Lionel Messi Emiliano Martinez Rodrigo De-Paul Nicolas Otamendi Brazil Usa Argentina

Lionel Messi and Argentina will get the chance to avenge their defeats to Chile in the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals after being grouped with their old rivals in the draw for next year's tournament on Thursday. Reigning Copa America champions Argentina will defend their title in the United States next summer in an expanded 16-team tournament which features 10 South American teams and six qualifiers from the CONCACAF region. Argentina, winners of last year's World Cup, will kick off the tournament on June 20 in Atlanta against either Canada or Trinidad & Tobago, who meet in a playoff next year to determine one of two remaining CONCACAF slots.

'Automatically Regretted It': Lionel Messi On Viral World Cup Gesture Towards Dutch Manager Louis Van Gaal

It's been almost a year since Argentina defeated France in a thriller to win their third World Cup title at the Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick for France in the final, but the Lionel Messi side prevailed 4-2 on the penalties against the two-time champions. Messi and Argentina's campaign kicked off with a 1-2 defeat to Saudi Arabia, but the Albiceleste turned things around quickly, winning their next two games against Poland and Mexico to secure a safe passage into the Round of 16.

Messi on World Cup win: After struggles in Argentina, fans love me - ESPN

Almost one year after Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy for Argentina in Qatar, the Inter Miami CF star revisited the complicated path to the title and expressed his satisfaction at turning criticism into praise in his country.

Watch: Argentina Star Spits At Brazil Fans During FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Match

Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 on Tuesday in an ill-tempered 2026 World Cup qualifying clash marred by pre-match crowd trouble that forced kick-off to be delayed at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. A video from the game is going viral on social media in which Argentina's attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria could be seen spitting at Brazil fans after they threw drinks over him and his teammates. The incident occured when Argentina players were entering the tunnel at the stadium.

Lionel Messi: Famous Maracana win marked by repression of Argentinians

Lionel Messi says Argentina's 1-0 victory over Brazil at the Maracana will be "marked by repression of Argentinians" after the game was delayed by crowd trouble.

Violent clashes mar Brazil v Argentina World Cup qualifier

RIO DE JANEIRO :Argentina captain Lionel Messi accused the Brazilian police of brutality as the start of their World Cup qualifier against Brazil was delayed by half an hour after clashes between police and visiting fans at Maracana Stadium on Tuesday (Nov 21).