The Argentina-Brazil football rivalry is considered by many as one of the most heated rivalries in world football. A lot of football fans call it the “Battle of the Americas.” whenever Argentina and Brazil lock horns on the international stage.
The matches between the two South American nations have often been quite heated with the two teams giving it their all in search of victory. Furthermore, what makes their rivalry even greater is the fact that both Argentina and Brazil have been so successful in World Cup football with the two countries having seven World Cups between them.
How Did The Rivalry Between The Two South American Giants Come To Be?
The roots of the Argentina-Brazil rivalry date back to the 20th century with both nations not wanting to lose whenever they met on the field.
Furthermore, Brazil has produced one of football’s greats in the form of Pele with many considering him to be the best to have ever played the beautiful game.
Similarly, Argentina has been honoured by the presence of the late great, Diego Maradona, who is also a candidate for the best player ever category.
The Maradona-Pele rivalry has only added more spice to the Argentina-Brazil rivalry over the years.
Who Are The Major Players In This Rivalry?
As mentioned, both Pele and Maradona are two of the best players to have come out of Brazil and Argentina respectively.
Other notable names from Brazil include the likes of Ronaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Kaka among many other greats that have all lifted the World Cup trophy.
Similarly, Argentina has seen its’ fair share of legendary footballers with Lionel Messi, Javier Zanetti, Gabriel Batistuta, Sergio Aguero, and Mario Kempes among their best players.
With so much history and great names behind the Argentina-Brazil rivalry, Tite’s Brazil national team and Lionel Scaloni’s 35-match unbeaten Argentina side would both fancy their chances of success in this year’s FIFA World Cup which is set to begin in Qatar on November 20 and conclude on December 18 with the final being held at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Here’s the trophy breakdown between Argentina and Brazil in men’s football.
| Major Honours | ARG | BRA |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup | 2 | 5 |
| FIFA Confederations Cup | 1 | 4 |
| Copa América | 15 | 9 |
| Panamerican Championship | 1 | 2 |
| CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions | 2 | 0 |
| Total senior titles | 21 | 20 |
It seems like Argentina has got a slight edge over Brazil when it comes to trophy count with just one silverware separating the two great South American nations across all major tournaments.
