The fierce rivalry between Argentina and Brazil took a fiery turn after Argentina’s commanding 3-0 victory over Brazil in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Leandro Paredes, the Argentine midfielder for AS Roma, didn’t hold back in responding to pre-match comments from Brazilian winger Raphinha of FC Barcelona, escalating tensions between the two South American giants.
#Paredes risponde a #Raphinha: ” Non dovresti parlare prima” https://t.co/9uMqYsFkiX
— Alfredo Pedullà (@AlfredoPedulla) March 26, 2025
In a post on X at 09:21 UTC on March 26, 2025, Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà shared Paredes’ sharp retort: “#Paredes risponde a #Raphinha: ‘Non dovresti parlare prima’” (“Paredes responds to Raphinha: ‘You shouldn’t talk beforehand’”). According to Somos Fanáticos, Raphinha had criticized Argentina’s playing style before the match, predicting a physical battle and guaranteeing a Brazilian win. Paredes, however, pointed out that Raphinha failed to back up his words on the pitch, where Argentina dominated with goals from Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, and Julián Álvarez.
The match, which took place on March 25, 2025, saw Argentina cement their lead in the CONMEBOL qualifying table with 28 points, while Brazil, now third with 21 points, suffered their third consecutive qualifier loss (Sportstar). Brazil’s struggles have raised alarms about their 2026 World Cup qualification, a stark contrast to their historical dominance as five-time champions. Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, had downplayed the rivalry pre-game, calling it “just a soccer match” (World Soccer Talk), but the result—and Paredes’ comments—reignited the feud.
Paredes’ jab underscores the high stakes of this storied rivalry, with both teams vying for supremacy in South American football. As Brazil faces mounting pressure, Argentina’s victory and Paredes’ words serve as a reminder: in this clash of titans, actions speak louder than pre-match bravado.
