Argentina players hit back on Raphinha’s comments after humbling Brazil in World Cup qualifier

Argentina players hit back at Brazil’s Raphinha who had stirred some passions with his quotes before the crunch World Cup qualifying match. Playing without Lionel Messi in the team, Argentina thrashed Brazil 4-1 in a World Cup qualifying game.
Talking before the Brazil vs Argentina game, Raphinha had said: “We’ll beat them (Argentina) up… Absolutely! Beat them up! On the pitch and off the pitch if we have to. For sure I’m going to (score a goal against Argentina). I’m going in with everything I’ve got…”
Those comments backfired as the reigning world champions defeated Brazil 4-1 on a day they also qualified for the World Cup next year. Brazil meanwhile are in fourth place in continental qualifying with 21 points, 10 behind Argentina.
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Joao Gomes walks off after Brazil’s loss to Argentina in a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. (AP Photo)
One of Argentina’s goal-scorers on the night, Julián Álvarez, did not pass on the chance to hit back at Raphinha, saying: “I just think with humility and hard work, we played a great game and gave them a lesson. Maybe with Leo Messi on the pitch we might have scored 2 or 3 more goals.”
His teammate Rodrigo de Paul added: “We have never disrespected anyone beforehand. Over all these years, we have been disrespected quite a lot. No one helped us. We achieved everything on our own. And we keep proving it. We’ve been the best national team in the last six years.”
Leo Paredes was also scathing in his comments, taking an obvious dig at Raphinha when he said: “You shouldn’t talk beforehand… especially when you can’t back it up on the field afterward. We always do our talking on the field.”
Only Argentina coach Scaloni showed some mercy to Raphinha, saying, “I forgive Raphinha… because I know he didn’t do it on purpose, he’s defending his country. I’m completely sure he didn’t mean to hurt anyone. We didn’t play like this because of that.”