Reigning world champions Argentina secured their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic fashion, delivering a resounding 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

La Albiceleste have been the standout team in the CONMEBOL section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, winning 10 of their 14 matches so far, with one draw and three defeats, and boasting an impressive goal difference (GD) of +18.

Argentina currently hold a commanding lead at the top of the South American standings, having amassed 31 points—eight more than Ecuador and 10 ahead of Uruguay, Brazil, and Paraguay, all of whom are level on 21 points.

The three-time world champions had already secured their place in the World Cup Finals earlier on Tuesday, after Bolivia held Uruguay to a goalless draw. Their celebrations were further heightened as Julián Álvarez (4’), Enzo Fernández (12’), Alexis Mac Allister (37’), and Giuliano Simeone (71’) all found the back of the net in a dominant performance against Brazil.

The night could have been even more humiliating for Seleção Canarinho, had it not been for Matheus Cunha, who capitalised on a Cristian Romero mistake to score Brazil’s only goal in the 26th minute, temporarily halving their deficit.

However, one notable absentee from Tuesday’s match at the Estadio Monumental was star forward Lionel Messi, who had been instrumental in ending Argentina’s 36-year wait for a third World Cup title in Qatar 2022.

Why Did Lionel Messi Miss Argentina’s 4-1 Victory Over Brazil?

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was absent from Tuesday’s high-profile World Cup Qualifier due to injury. The 37-year-old forward was ruled out of Argentina’s squad after sustaining a ‘low-grade’ adductor injury during Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United in their Major League Soccer (MLS) fixture on Monday, 17 March.

Despite the injury, Messi completed the full 90 minutes of the match, scoring the equaliser for The Herons in the 20th minute, just nine minutes after Atlanta had taken the lead. Later in the game, Haitian winger Fafà Picault secured the win for Miami with an 89th-minute strike.

Messi’s absence, however, had little impact on Argentina’s performance, as Lionel Scaloni’s side cruised to a commanding victory over the five-time world champions.