Argentina crush Brazil 4-1 in World Cup qualifier as pressure mounts on Dorival Jr

BUENOS AIRES: Brazil suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against fierce rivals Argentina in a South American World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, increasing the pressure on manager Dorival Jr. The Seleção were outplayed from start to finish, fortunate not to lose by an even larger margin.

Fresh off a 2-1 victory over Colombia, Brazil were quickly brought back to reality as Argentina, already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, dominated from the outset. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring in just the fourth minute, calmly finishing past goalkeeper Bento after a slick assist from Thiago Almada.

“We humbly did our job and played a great game. We gave them a show,” Álvarez said after the match. “Winning 4-1 is historic, and we’re really proud.”

Enzo Fernández doubled Argentina’s lead in the 12th minute, and despite missing key players like Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez, the world champions looked far superior. Brazil, struggling for cohesion and defensive stability, failed to respond effectively.

With pressure growing on Dorival Jr, Brazil must regroup quickly as they risk falling further behind their South American rivals. Meanwhile, Argentina’s commanding display reaffirmed their status as the continent’s dominant force.