Lionel Messi stands against violence, forces Argentina exit after clash between fans and police in Maracana

The highly-anticipated 2026 World Cup qualifying clash between Argentina and Brazil witnessed a terrifying clash between the fans and the Police at the Rio di Janerio’s iconic Maracana Stadium. During the incident, Football legend and Argentine skipper Lionel Messi made a bold and unprecedented decision to lead the entire Argentina national team off the field. 

The unexpected move came in response to escalating clashes between fans and police, turning the once-celebratory atmosphere into one of chaos. Eyewitnesses reported tensions rising even before the start of the game. The fans of the two South American giants were clashing in the stands. The clash wasn’t stopping due to which the Brazilian Police were forced to intervene. They used batons to disperse a group of Argentine fans. The video of the incident is going viral on social media.

Watch the video here:

https://twitter.com/_igorrodrigues/status/1727128435720601717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1727128435720601717%7Ctwgr%5Ec6b4defbc829f8544a12e28077427af737c5d9df%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fwatch-lionel-messi-takes-argentina-team-off-the-field-after-clashes-between-fans-and-police-at-marcana-9037129%2F

The decision to abandon the match sends a powerful message about prioritising player and spectator safety over the competition. Messi‘s actions are likely to spark discussions about the role of football in addressing societal issues and the responsibilities of both players and authorities in ensuring the well-being of everyone involved in the beautiful game. He also took to social media to address the issue.

“This team continues to make history. Great victory in the Maracaná although it will be marked by the repression of the Argentinians once again in Brazil. This can’t be tolerated it’s insane and it needs to end now!!” he wrote.

Brilliant performance by Argentina

Talking about the match, Brazil faced challenges in creating meaningful opportunities during the match, and their initial shot on goal didn’t occur until the 38th minute when Gabriel Martinelli’s attempt was cleared off the line by Argentina’s Cristian Romero. In the second half, Brazil adopted a more positive approach.

Despite Brazil’s efforts, Argentina seized the lead in the 63rd minute with Nicolas Otamendi scoring a header from a corner delivered by Giovani Lo Celso. Brazil’s difficulties persisted as substitute Joelinton was red-carded in the 82nd minute for an off-the-ball incident involving De Paul.

This defeat marked Brazil’s third consecutive loss in World Cup qualifiers, a historic first in their football journey. Additionally, it represented their inaugural home loss in a World Cup qualifier. Argentina’s triumph solidified their position at the top of the South American qualifying standings with 15 points from six games, while Brazil now occupies sixth place with seven points from six games.