Why is there a Brazil-Argentina rivalry in football?

The Brazil-Argentina rivalry is undoubtedly one of the most legendary in world football , nicknamed the Superclásico of the Americas . It dates back to 1914, with the first official encounter, which ended in a 3-0 victory for Argentina. This rivalry quickly transcended the pitch, becoming a quest for national identity for both the Brazilian and Argentinian people. Two styles clash: the finesse of Rio de Janeiro versus the artistic dribbling of Argentina.

This duel also embodies historical tensions: rival territories, popular pride, and the reign of football as a mirror of each nation's power.

The Brazil-Argentina rivalry: clashes, scandals and declarations

The Brazil-Argentina rivalry is punctuated by episodes as explosive as they are memorable. Each generation has had its share of controversies , feuds, and symbols. Here are the key events that have forged the legend of this rivalry:

➝ 1925 – The Barracas War : The 1925 Copa América took place in Buenos Aires, at the Barracas Central Stadium. The tournament featured only three nations (Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay), but tensions were running high between the two South American rivals. During the decisive match between Argentina and Brazil, the atmosphere became electric from the opening whistle. Dirty tricks and hard tackles followed one after another, while the already fired-up Argentine crowd fueled the hostile atmosphere.

After several disputed refereeing decisions, the players came to blows. What began as a simple altercation between two opponents quickly escalated: players from the benches, substitutes, and even officials rushed onto the pitch. A full-blown melee broke out, forcing the officials to abandon the match. This incident marked the beginning of the Brazil-Argentina rivalry in football.

➝ 1937 – The "Jogo da Vergonha" ("Shameful Match") : In the Copa América, the final was played in Buenos Aires. After 90 goalless minutes, Argentina scored twice in extra time through the young Vicente De la Mata (102nd and 112th minutes), winning 2-0 and clinching the title. The atmosphere was extremely hostile: contemporary accounts report racist insults from the stands (including monkey chants) directed at their Brazilian rivals.

Disputing one of the goals and fearing for their safety , Brazilian players attempted to leave the field before the final whistle to return to the locker room (one account even reports that the locker room door was locked, preventing them from leaving). In the Brazilian press, the match was subsequently dubbed "jogo da vergonha" — "the match of shame." The press increasingly fueled this rivalry.

➝ 1990 – The "holy water" affair : In the round of 16 of the 1990 World Cup in Turin, Brazil faced Argentina. During the match, Brazilian player Branco received a bottle of water from Argentine masseur Miguel di Lorenzo during a break in play for treatment of a South American player. According to Branco, moments after drinking it, he suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous , experiencing a decline in his physical abilities during the match. Two days later, he claimed that the water had been laced with a tranquilizer : the incident was quickly dubbed the "holy water scandal" by the Argentine media and reignited the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina.

The affair was never officially confirmed. However, the narrative element remains ingrained in the collective memory: Diego Maradona himself referred to the incident in 2004, jokingly stating that Branco had indeed received "holy water," leaving room for doubt between a dubious strategy or a simple urban legend to amplify this Brazil-Argentina rivalry.

Match between rivals Argentina and Brazil in 1990

➝ 2021 – Match interrupted for health reasons : the rivalry is reignited during a 2022 World Cup qualifier when agents from the Brazilian health agency ANVISA stormed the pitch at the Neo Química Arena in São Paulo. They accused four Argentine Premier League players (Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso, Emiliano Martínez, and Emiliano Buendía) of providing false information upon entering Brazil, in violation of COVID quarantine rules (having recently been in the United Kingdom). These players were nevertheless in the starting lineup, which led to the referee immediately suspending the match after only a few minutes of play.

The chaos spread far beyond the pitch. Both teams and their staff were evacuated, while CONMEBOL had to intervene to manage the crisis. A Brazilian journalist summed up the situation as a national humiliation, stating: "We are humiliated on the world stage... it's deeply regrettable." A few months later, FIFA ruled that the match should be replayed , while also handing two-match suspensions to the four players involved and fines to both federations for breaches of order and security. The rivalry hasn't subsided even after all these years.

➝ 2025 – The historic thrashing at the Monumental : in the South American qualifiers, Argentina inflicts a resounding 4-1 defeat on Brazil in Buenos Aires . This historic score confirms the Albiceleste's recent supremacy and provokes a deep crisis in Brazil. The Argentine media then speaks of a "generational victory," further intensifying this century-old rivalry.

In Brazil, the comments are not going down well and the feeling of revenge against their Argentinian rival is eagerly awaited.

A rivalry that is statistically balanced

As of March 2025, there have been 115 official matches between the rival national teams of Brazil and Argentina :

• 47 victories for Argentina
• 43 for Brazil
• 26 draws

A truly balanced rivalry, with a slight edge for Argentina. The intensity of this duel is all the more striking given that neither team has ever truly dominated over the long term. These are two giants of South American football, constantly battling it out.

Since November 2019, however, the trend has changed : head-to-head matches between the two rivals in the World Cup qualifiers show Argentina undefeated against Brazil in six official encounters. This development is a strong signal: the Brazil-Argentina rivalry remains balanced over time, but Argentina seems to have gained the upper hand recently.