Argentina thrash Brazil 4-1: What’s the biggest goal margin in their storied rivalry?

Argentina triumphed 4-1 over Brazil in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It marked one of the most significant victories in recent history between these two soccer giants.

On Tuesday, Argentina took the field knowing they had already secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, that didn’t lead to complacency. The team delivered a historic 4-1 win over Brazil at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

This victory in the March international break was the largest in the last 61 years. The last time Argentina defeated Brazil by three or more goals was in the 1964 Nations Cup, where they won 3-0. To find an even more decisive margin, one has to look further back in history.

Argentina’s biggest-ever win over Brazil came in the 1940 Copa Roca, when they thrashed their rivals 6-1. That same edition of the tournament also saw the second-largest win, with a 5-1 scoreline. In the previous year’s Copa Roca, Argentina secured an identical 5-1 victory.

In the modern era, the closest precedent for such a dominant win came in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. In a match played at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina won 3-1, with Hernan Crespo scoring twice and Juan Roman Riquelme adding the third. Roberto Carlos netted for Brazil.

Brazil’s biggest victories against Argentina

Brazil’s biggest win over Argentina came in the 1945 Copa Roca, when they claimed a 6-2 victory. Fifteen years later, in the Copa Atlantico, Brazil also triumphed 5-1.

In recent decades, Brazil has enjoyed some notable victories over Argentina. The first was in the final of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, where they won 4-1. Two years later, in the Copa America final held in Venezuela, Brazil defeated Argentina 3-0. The most recent dominant result was in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, when Brazil won 3-0, with goals from Philippe Coutinho, Neymar, and Paulinho.

How is the all-time record between Argentina and Brazil?

Argentina’s 4-1 win on Tuesday marked the 106th official meeting between the two nations. In their head-to-head history, Argentina hold a slight advantage with 41 victories and 160 goals scored. Brazil have won 39 times and netted 155 goals, while there have been 26 draws.

In the last five official encounters, Argentina have turned the tide in their favor. They’ve secured three wins (two in the current World Cup qualifiers and one in the 2021 Copa America final), one draw, and one defeat against Brazil.

Argentina break another Brazilian record

In the previous encounter between Argentina and Brazil in late 2023, Lionel Messi’s team won 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, handing Brazil their first-ever home loss in World Cup qualifiers. This Tuesday, Argentina achieved another historic feat: they handed Brazil their worst-ever defeat in World Cup qualifiers, conceding four goals in a single match for the first time.

Credit: Bolavip US