The ArgentinaâÂÂBrazil football rivalry, also referred to as the Clásico Sudamericano (; ), or the Superclassic of the America is a football rivalry between the national teams of Brazil and Argentina. The rivalry is considered one of the fiercest in international football, having been described by FIFA as the "essence of football rivalry".
The games between the two nations are known for both the skill involved and the level of competitiveness, whether it be among individual players, club teams or national fixtures. Both teams are often considered among the best in the world and usually regarded as favourites for major football tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, CONMEBOL and the Copa América. They are also routinely ranked among the top nations in both the FIFA World Rankings and the World Football Elo Ratings.
Moreover, throughout football's history, both nations have had players who, at one point or another, were considered to be the very best in the world, such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi from Argentina, and Pelé, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho from Brazil.
In a head-to-head comparison of senior titles, Brazil has won five FIFA World Cups, while Argentina has won three. In contrast, Argentina has won the Copa América sixteen times, compared to Brazil's nine. The duo also has many independent achievements in inter-confederation competitions, such as the FIFA Confederations Cup, won four times by Brazil and once by Argentina, the CONMEBOLâÂÂUEFA Cup of Champions, twice for Argentina and none for Brazil, and the Panamerican Championship, won twice by Brazil and once by Argentina.
The origins of the football rivalry between Argentina and Brazil can be traced back to a time when football hadn't yet become the massively popular sport that it is today in both countries. Since their first match in 1914, the men's senior national teams have faced each other in more than 100 matches, including friendlies, FIFA World Cup matches, and other official competitions.
Ever since Argentina's 3âÂÂ0 victory over Brazil in 1914, the yearly years of the countries' football rivalry were defined by periods of non-engagement due to violent incidents. Notably, after a Copa América final turned violent in 1925, both teams refrained from competing in tournaments where the other was present (Brazil withdrawing from the Copa América until 1937), followed by a similar decade-long hiatus where, after a match in 1946, Argentina did not participate in any following World Cups until 1958.
Argentina would initially dominate the rivalry in a strict head-to-head count, going on to achieve considerable success in the Copa América, both with and without Brazil's attendance, winning twelve titles between 1921 and 1959 (placing second another seven times), which included a total of seven finals and won against Brazil (Brazil's first ever victory over Argentina in a final match would only come in 2004). However, after being the runner-up for the first ever World Cup in 1930, Argentina somewhat fell behind Brazil on the global stage, where the latter went on to win three World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970, while their figurehead player Pelé became the face of international football. Argentina would eventually win their first World Cup title as the host nation in 1978, after advancing from a hard-fought goalless draw against Brazil in the second group stage and ultimately winning the final match. Then came a second title in Mexico, in 1986, spearheaded by their own football icon, Maradona. The two teams would face each other again in the knockout stages for the 1990 World Cup, where Argentina was the eventual runner-up against West Germany. Brazil subsequently added two more titles to their record in 1994 and 2002, bringing their total to five, and Argentina went on to win the 2022 title, bringing their own total to three.
Between 1914 and 1976 the two nations also competed in the Roca Cup on 12 occasions. In 2011, the competition was reinstituted as the Superclassic of the Americas, which ran annually until 2019 (except in 2015 and 2016).
For the 1925 Copa América, Argentina and Brazil faced each other in the final match at Sportivo Barracas Stadium, on Christmas Day, drawing a crowd of more than 30,000 people. After 27 minutes, Lagarto intercepted a back pass by Ludovico Bidoglio and passed the ball to Arthur Friedenreich, who then managed to outmanoeuvre the Argentine goalie Américo Tesoriere with a strong shot, making it 1âÂÂ0 to Brazil. Three minutes later, Nilo scored the second goal for the canarinha, to the crowd's astonishment: if the Brazilian lead was maintained, a new match would have to be played in order to determine the champion.
Before the end of the first half, a dangerous Brazilian counterattack was brought to a halt by Ramón Muttis with a heavy foul inflicted on Friedenreich, who in turn reacted by kicking the player. After the Argentine responded with a punch to the Brazilian's face, a full-blown brawl ensued, involving several players and even some spectators who invaded the pitch. Consequently, the game was soon suspended, only being resumed - without any dismissals - after a hug between Friedenreich and Muttis sealed a truce between the teams.
After resuming, the match underwent a major change in course: by the end of the first half, Argentine player Antonio Cerrotti had narrowed the gap and opened the path to recovery. Then came the equaliser, ten minutes into the second half, scored by Manuel Seoane. After no more goals from either side, the match would end in a tied 2âÂÂ2, granting Argentina their second victory in the Copa América. In Brazil, news of the match and its violent incident would be run by some local newspapers, who referred to the game as .
Because of this event, Argentina and Brazil would refrain from officially playing against each other for 11 years.
By the 1937 South American Championship (now Copa América), the rivalry between both teams had already become a matter of national pride. There often were verbal confrontations between both parties, wherein Argentine fans often taunted the Brazilians by calling them macaquitos () and making monkey sounds. The tournament's final match, held in Buenos Aires, was played between the two teams and by the 90 minutes mark the score was still goalless; the tie would be broken by the Argentinians, who, in overtime, managed to score two goals. Questioning one of the goals validity and fearful for their own safety, the Brazilian players would leave the stadium before the match was officially finished. The Brazilian press would go on to call the match jogo da vergonha ().
The 1939 edition of the Roca Cup â the amicable tournament between Brazil and Argentina â was the longest one in history, only being decided after two extra playoffs, in a total of four matches. The first two games were held in São Januário Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, with the first one ending 5âÂÂ1 to Argentina, in January 1939.
A second match was held only a week later, with the Brazilian team seeking to avenge the previous defeat. The match was intense: at first, Brazil was ahead at 1âÂÂ0, then Argentina held the lead at 1âÂÂ2, with Brazil finally levelling the scores at 2âÂÂ2. Shortly before the end of the match, the referee (who was the same from the previous game) called a penalty for Brazil. Furious, Argentine player Arcadio López verbally assaulted the referee and had to be escorted out of the pitch by the police. The Argentine team, enraged by the situation, left the pitch in protest. The penalty would grant Brazil a 3âÂÂ2 victory, which was scored without a goalkeeper, since the entire Argentine team had already abandoned the pitch.
As both teams had each won one match, a playoff game was scheduled at Parque Antárctica in São Paulo. After extra time, the match ended in a 2âÂÂ2 tie; therefore, a fourth and final match was held in the same venue and won by Argentina 3âÂÂ0, finally granting them the trophy.
During a 1945 Roca Cup match won by Brazil 6âÂÂ2, the young Brazilian player Ademir de Menezes fractured Argentine José Batagliero's leg. Though it seemed to be only an unfortunate accident, both teams reacted by carrying the game on in a rougher and sometimes violent manner.
A few months later, Argentina and Brazil would again face each other in the final match for the 1946 South American Championship. Widespread media coverage at the time held the conviction that it would be a rough match. Twenty-eight minutes in, while heading for a free ball, Brazilian Jair da Rosa Pinto fractured Argentine captain José Salomón's tibia and fibula. General disorder ensued, with Argentine and Brazilian players fighting each other on the pitch as the mounted police unit on-site tried to suppress the brawl. After some 500 members of the audience invaded the pitch, both teams retreated to their dressing rooms. After eventually subduing the affray, the game was allowed to continue and Argentina would go on to win the match 2âÂÂ0. After the incident, Salomón never completely recovered from the injury and would never play professional football again.
The event would mark the first-ever meeting between both countries in the FIFA World Cup. Brazil, who'd previously won the 1970 World Cup, would face Argentina in West Germany's Niedersachsenstadion, in Hanover, for the tournament's second round, as both teams were placed in Group A. Ultimately, the game was won 2âÂÂ1 by Brazil, with goals from Rivellino and Jairzinho, whereas Brindisi scored the only goal for Argentina.
For the second group stage of the tournament, Group B was essentially a battle between Argentina and Brazil, which was resolved in controversial circumstances. In the first stage, Brazil beat Peru 3âÂÂ0 while Argentina saw off Poland 2âÂÂ0. Brazil and Argentina then played out a tense and violent goalless draw â which became known as A Batalha de Rosário () â thus granting both teams three points by the last round of games; despite the draw, Argentina would hold an advantage over Brazil insofar as their match against Peru kicked off several hours after Brazil's match with Poland.
With Brazil having won their match 3âÂÂ1, the Argentines knew that they had to beat Peru by four clear goals to go through to the final. The team would manage to do so with what some considered a suspicious degree of ease: trailing 2âÂÂ0 at half-time, Peru's efforts simply collapsed in the second half of the game, allowing Argentina to win 6âÂÂ0. Rumours had it that Peru might have been illicitly induced not to try too hard, a notion that was especially inflamed due to the fact that the Peruvian goalkeeper, Ramón Quiroga, was born in Argentina). Nevertheless, no foul play was ever proved, and Argentina met the Netherlands in the final.
Having been denied a final place by Argentina's 6âÂÂ0 win over Peru, Brazil would place third after facing Italy and the two were dubbed "moral champions" by coach Cláudio Coutinho, since, despite not ultimately winning the tournament, they did not lose a single match.
For the tournament's second group stage, Brazil and Argentina were grouped together (along with Italy) in Group C, which was dubbed the "group of death". In the opener, Italy prevailed 2âÂÂ1 over Argentina, who then needed a win over Brazil on the second day. However, the Brazilians' attacking game, characterised by nimble one-touch passing on-the-run, ultimately managed to outmatch the Argentine team, in a final score of 3âÂÂ1. Frustrated with the outcome, Diego Maradona kicked Brazilian player Batista, for which he received a straight red card. Brazil would go on to lose their next game to Italy and thus exited the World Cup along with Argentina.
The teams met in the 16th round of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Argentina defeated Brazil 1âÂÂ0 with a goal from Claudio Caniggia, after a pass from Diego Maradona. However, the match would come to a controversial ending, with Brazilian player Branco accusing the Argentine training staff of giving him a bottle of water laced with tranquilisers while they were tending to an injured player. Years later, Maradona stated on an Argentine television show that Branco had been given "holy water". Both the Argentine Football Association and the team's coach at the time, Carlos Bilardo, denied that the "holy water" incident ever took place, though Bilardo had previously said of Branco's allegation: "I'm not saying it didn't happen."
Argentina defeated Brazil 3âÂÂ2 in Santiago in the first match of the final pool. Five players were sent off: Claudio Caniggia and Mazinho Oliveira after tangling in the 31st minute; Carlos Enrique and Márcio Roberto dos Santos for a fight in the 61st minute, that sent one player out on a stretcher; and Careca Bianchezi in the 80th minute, two minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Argentina and Brazil tied 1âÂÂ1 in the quarter-final match, played in Guayaquil: Brazil initially took the lead, but Leonardo RodrÃÂguez brought about the draw in the second half with a header after a corner kick. For the shoot-out, Argentina defeated Brazil 6âÂÂ5 after Marco Antônio Boiadeiro missed the final spot kick for Brazil, getting the team through to the semi-finals. Argentina would go on to win that year's Copa América title after defeating Mexico in the final.
Held in Uruguay, the two nations met at the quarter-finals stage on 17 July 1995. The Brazilian player Túlio Maravilha became famous for scoring a late equalizer five minutes from cut-off after controlling the ball with his left arm, an illegal move according to the game's regulations. Despite the obvious foul, the referee, Alberto Tejada Noriega of Peru, claimed he did not see the incident and the goal wasn't nullified. The game finished with a 2âÂÂ2 draw and Brazil went on to win on penalties. The Argentine media labelled the incident as the "hand of the devil", a reference to the controversial goal scored by Diego Maradona in the 1986 FIFA World Cup against England.
In the final match of the tournament, Argentina was winning 2âÂÂ1 over Brazil, but Adriano scored a goal in the last minute of the match, taking it to penalties. Brazil would win the shoot-out with Júlio César stopping a shot from Andrés D'Alessandro.
In 2005, Brazil and Argentina participated in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. Brazil had qualified for the competition as the reigning World Cup champion at the time. However, since Brazil had also won the 2004 Copa América, runners-up Argentina was allowed to participate in the tournament to take up the vacated qualifier berth. In the semi-finals, Brazil eliminated hosting nation Germany, while Argentina eliminated Mexico, making it so that this competition marked the first time ever the two rivals met in the final game of a tournament sponsored by FIFA. The Brazilians would end up winning the match, outscoring the Argentines 4âÂÂ1. Adriano scored twice for Brazil, along with Kaká and Ronaldinho, while Pablo Aimar scored Argentina's only goal.
Brazil defeated Argentina 3âÂÂ0 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, in the final. The goals were scored by Júlio Baptista, an own goal by Roberto Ayala, and Dani Alves.
Argentina and Brazil met on 19 August in the semi-final match of the football event. The game was described as a tête-à-tête between Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, two FC Barcelona teammates. The game was recognized as a hard-fought clash between two historic rivals, marred by numerous fouls and two red cards for Brazil. Argentina would end up winning 3âÂÂ0, and went on to beat Nigeria 1âÂÂ0 in the final, being the first nation to obtain two consecutive gold medals in football in 40 years, and the third overall after the United Kingdom and Uruguay.
Brazil and Argentina met at the semi-final match for the 2019 Copa América, which was hosted in Brazil. Brazil defeated Argentina 2âÂÂ0 with goals by Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino. Argentina eventually placed third and Brazil went on to win their 9th Copa América title.
The 2021 Copa América was originally scheduled to be jointly held in Colombia and Argentina in 2020, but it was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event's organizers eventually removed both Argentina and Colombia from hosting the tournament, due to social unrest in Colombia and the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina. Consequently, Brazil was chosen to host the tournament instead. In the final, Argentina defeated Brazil 1âÂÂ0 at the Maracanã Stadium with a goal scored by ÃÂngel Di MarÃÂa, winning their 15th Copa América title, the first one in 28 years.
On 22 November 2023, Argentina once again defeated Brazil 1âÂÂ0 at the Maracanã in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier that was delayed due to crowd violence. It was the first time in history that Brazil was defeated at home in a FIFA World Cup qualification match after an uninterrupted run of 51 wins and 13 draws.
On 25 March 2025, Argentina defeated Brazil 4-1 again, this time at the Mâs Monumental in another 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, where Argentina became the first South American team to qualify for the 2026 event. It was the first time Argentina beat Brazil by such a margin since the 60's. It was also Brazil's first back to back defeat in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. The loss would lead the Brazilian football association to fire coach Dorival Júnior a few days later.
Among the elite group of players football fans consider as contenders for the title of best player of all time, Brazil's Pelé and Argentina's Diego Maradona often figure as the most famous. Some of their countrymen are also regularly featured as other possible contenders: the next most notable candidates are perhaps Garrincha (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), and Alfredo Di Stéfano (Argentina). The most dominant figures from the two countries in the modern game of football are Neymar (Brazilian) and Messi, who both played for F.C. Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. Both Pelé and Maradona have nominated these players as their respective "successors".
Nevertheless, the overall discussion around whether Pelé is better than Maradona or vice versa has insofar proved to be a never-ending, contentious dispute. Many consider a direct comparison between the players to be ultimately useless, as both players were respectively active during distinct eras and in different leagues. The debate between the pair has been described as "the rivalry of their countries in microcosm".
In regards to third-party recognitions, Pelé was given the title "Athlete of the Century" by the International Olympic Committee. In 1999, Time magazine named Pelé one of the . He was also elected Football Player of the Century by France's Football Golden Ball Winners, in 1999, as well ass Football Player of the Century and South America Football Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). For his part, Maradona has been named Best Player of the 20th Century by the Globe Soccer Awards and the best soccer player in World Cup history by The Times, while FourFourTwo regarded him as the Best Football Player of All Time. He was also elected as the Greatest Athlete in History by Corriere Dello Sport â Stadio.
The feud would reach a climax during the FIFA Player of the Century award in 2000, for which Maradona was voted Player of the Century in an official internet poll, garnering 53.6% of the votes against 18.53% for Pelé. Shortly before the ceremony, FIFA decided to add a second award and appointed a "Football Family" committee composed of football journalists that gave Pelé the title of The Best Player of the Century, making it a draw. This move was criticized in Argentina, where it was suspected that Pelé was rewarded due to his constant support of FIFA, in contrast to Maradona's frequent criticism of the federation. Others believed that FIFA weighed in other issues besides strictly professional merit in football, such as contentious Maradona's drug usage. In the ceremony, Maradona left right after receiving his award and just before Pelé was given his.
In another internet poll that took place in 2002, Maradona received another award from FIFA, as one of his goals was selected as the World Cup Goal of the Century. One of Pelé's goals received third place, while Maradona had a second goal selected as fourth.
Despite their frequent confrontations, usually through references in the media, Pelé was a guest star in Maradona's TV show La Noche del 10 (), where they had a friendly chat and played a bout of headers. The two players also showed great respect for each other despite their differences, such as when Pelé stated in 2018 that Maradona was better than Messi, or in 2019 when Maradona prayed for Pelé to recover after the Brazilian legend was admitted to hospital for health complications. When Maradona died on 25 November 2020, Pelé was among the major football figures to mourn Maradona's death.
Complete list of matches between both sides:
Note: Matches held before 1914 are not recognized by FIFA, thus the Federation states that Brazilian squads formed before that point in time were not official representatives of the country.
Before 1914, Argentina had toured Brazil twice, the first time in 1908, returning in 1912.
List of matches played from 1908 to 1914 â before the CBF was established â between the Argentina national team and diverse representatives (named themselves "Brazil"), such as Liga Paulista and Liga Carioca combined, or clubs (Paulistano, SC Americano), among others. It is believed that in the first match held on 2 July 1908, Argentina wore the light blue and white shirt for the first time, although other sources state that the shirt debuted in a Copa Newton match v Uruguay in September that year. In 1913, a Liga Paulista team arrived in Argentina to play two friendly matches there.
There is a dispute in the official count of matches. Many sources don't count a few games played between the first team of Argentina against Brazilian State Selections teams, or the first team of Argentina or Brazil played against a "B" team of the rival, so they would not be "International Class A" matches.
There are 6 controversial matches that many sources count them as official games, many others do not count, and many others count some of them and do not count others. These are those controversial games:
Having said that, according to many sources Argentina has won 44 games and Brazil 42.
According to many sources Argentina has won 43 games and Brazil 42.
According to other sources, Argentina leads by two matches (41 to 39).
According to other sources Brazil leads by one match (43 to 42).
Note: Only official competitions (organised by CONMEBOL and/or other continental confederations) are included.
In the history of the Copa Libertadores, played since 1960, only twice has a Brazilian team attained the title on Argentine soil: in 1963, when Brazilian Santos F.C. defeated the most popular Argentine club, Boca Juniors, and in 2017, when Grêmio defeated Club Atlético Lanús. On the other hand, Boca Juniors has achieved three of its six titles on Brazilian soil, defeating Palmeiras in 2000, Santos in 2003 and Grêmio in 2007. The two greatest Argentine and Brazilian football players of all time, Pelé and Maradona, at one point also played in these two clubs: Pelé for Santos and Maradona for Boca Juniors. It has been reported that in all three of Boca Juniors' victories on Brazilian soil, Boca's players were denied a good night's rest the night before their final matches because of the chaos and noise created by Brazilian fans outside their hotel rooms, who attempted to disrupt the Argentine players from performing to the best of their abilities on the competition.
In the international arena, the most successful Argentine clubs are Boca Juniors (six Libertadores and three Intercontinental Cups), Independiente (seven Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups), Estudiantes de La Plata (four Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup), River Plate (four Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup), Vélez Sársfield (one Libertadores and one Intercontinental), San Lorenzo (one Libertadores, one Copa Mercosur and one Copa Sudamericana), Argentinos Juniors (one Libertadores) and Racing Club (one Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup).
The most successful Brazilian clubs are São Paulo F.C. (three Libertadores, one FIFA Club World Cup, two Intercontinental Cups, two Recopas and one Copa Sudamericana), Santos F.C. (three Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups), Grêmio (three Libertadores and one Intercontinental Cup), Palmeiras (three Libertadores, one Copa Mercosur and one Recopa Sudamericana), Internacional (two Libertadores and one FIFA Club World Cup), Cruzeiro (two Libertadores), Corinthians (one Libertadores and two FIFA Club World Cups), Flamengo, (four Libertadores, one Copa Mercosur, one Copa de Oro, one Recopa and one Intercontinental Cup), Vasco da Gama (one Libertadores and one Copa Mercosur), Atlético Mineiro (one Libertadores and two Copa Conmebol), Fluminense (one Libertadores) and Botafogo (one Libertadores and one Copa Conmebol).
The Brazilian women's team had little opportunity before 1980 to progress their skills, as ever since 1940, women's football had been prohibited by law in Brazil; nevertheless, this did not stop women from playing the sport. It was believed that an excess in physical instruction for women could cause "masculinization". For such, women faced significant challenges in defying the ban on women in sports, facing hostilities and a lack of opportunities.
After a long history of exclusion, in 1991, Brazil would officially be represented by their women's national football team. It was runner-up in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, and won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in 2004, 2008 and 2024. In comparison, Argentina does not have a professional (or even semi-professional) women's football league; the members of the Argentine women's national football team are all amateur players despite their clubs often being affiliated with prominent men's professional clubs. Although the two teams usually have to compete for the top qualification spots for CONMEBOL when the World Cup qualification comes around, this rivalry does not yet enjoy the same public notoriety that men's matches do.
Brazil won every game of the Sudamericano Femenino against Argentina until the 2006 edition, when Argentina finally beat them 2âÂÂ0 in the final group stage, awarding Argentina the championship. Argentina did not participate in the 1991 South American competition and was second to Brazil in the following three tournaments. Starting with the 2003 edition, both champion and runner-up qualified for the World Cup. As Argentina has never been past the group stages in the World Cup, the two teams have not met in an Olympic Football Tournament yet.