Last night during an emphatic round of fixtures in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, 5-time World Champions Brazil took on the reigning FIFA World Champions Argentina. This match took place at the historic Maracana stadium in Brazil. But before the start of the match, some aggressive scenes happened in the crowd.
A brawl occurred between Argentine fans and Brazilian police as players entered the field for the match. During this brawl, several fans were injured and were immediately taken to the hospital. It was also seen that Brazilian riot and crown control police hitting the Argentine fans with a baton.
🚨 FULL footage of what has happened between Brazilian police and Argentine fans.
📹 Video by @_igorrodrigues 👏🏻pic.twitter.com/R7fbN5BMND
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) November 22, 2023
With this brawl taking place an action was taken by the Argentine captain, Lionel Messi. As things started to get even worse and uncontrollable, Messi went on to say, “We’re leaving. We can’t play in these circumstances.” As the players started to leave the pitch, things started to calm down a bit and the situation came under control.
With the situation calming down players came back on the field to start the match, and get things going. But during the arrival of the players, another incident took place on the field between the Brazilian winger, Rodrygo, and the Argentine captain, Lionel Messi.
What happened between Rodrygo and Lionel Messi
As the players came back onto the field, an interaction took place between Rodrygo and Lionel Messi. During this conversation, Rodrygo came to Messi and said to him, “You cowards”, because during the fight taking place instead of facing the atmosphere, Argentine players went back to the locker room.
🚨 The dialogue between Messi and Rodrygo, reports @TyCSports
🇧🇷 Rodrygo to Messi after Argentine team came out from the locker room: “You cowards.”
🇦🇷 Leo Messi: “We are the world champions, why are we cowards? Look at your mouth.” pic.twitter.com/MZwxqJYcV9
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) November 22, 2023
But in that reply, Lionel Messi said, “We are the world champions, why are we cowards? Look at your mouth.” Showing that they were not holding any fear with the situation, they just wanted the things to calm down and play the match in peace with nobody getting harmed during the process.
Where was Rodrigo De Paul in this situation?
Rodrigo De Paul has been the right-hand man for Lionel Messi for some good time and has been backing his captain through any situation he goes through. During this situation between Rodrygo and Messi, De Paul was also present in this scenario, instead of talking he performed on the pitch and delivered the result.
As the match ended Argentina won the match by 1 goal to nil. Argentina made history by defeating Brazil in their home ground during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Rodrigo De Paul: “History is not written by cowards.”
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) November 22, 2023
To savour this situation after the match De Paul said, “History is not written by cowards.” Having taken some hit after their previous match against Uruguay De Paul also said, “Some nonsense was said after the game against Uruguay but I showed again that I’m leaving everything for this shirt.” Continuing the statement he also said, “We made history. We are the best national team in the world. We speak on the field, we have the big balls.”
With these comments, De Paul has shown the world exactly what this Argentine team is. Instead of taking things off the field, these Argentine players talk on the field. Instead of just talking with their mouths they like to do the talking with their feet.
Argentina won 5 out of 6 qualifying matches, extending their lead after beating Brazil. With this win, they stand 2 points ahead of the 2nd-placed nation, Uruguay.
Argentina have been unbeaten for 51 of their previous 53 matches across all competitions. Being the reigning Copa America and FIFA World Champions, Argentina doesn’t seem to be stopping here, they are looking to extend their lead mark themselves even higher in the history books, and rewriting the history deemed for their nation.