Argentina captain Lionel Messi has raised serious concerns after crowd trouble marred their World Cup qualifying clash against Brazil at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The 36-year-old warned that the situation “could have ended in tragedy,” as police clashed with away fans, including players’ friends and family, before kick-off.
The trouble erupted during the national anthems, when rival supporters fought in a section behind one of the goals. Police intervened, using batons to disperse Argentina fans, prompting some spectators to rip out seats and throw them at officers, while others spilled onto the pitch in an attempt to escape.
Messi and his teammates intervened to try to calm the chaos before retreating to the dressing room for safety. “It was bad because we saw how they were beating people,” Messi said. “The police, as happened in the Libertadores final, were once again repressing the people with night sticks. We went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down. It could have ended in tragedy. You think about the families, the people who are there, who don’t know what’s going on, and we were more concerned about that than playing a match, which at that point was secondary.”
Brazil captain Marquinhos joined the Argentina players on the pitch, calling for calm. “We were worried about the families, women, and children that we were seeing in panic up there in the stands. Down on the pitch, it was hard for us to understand what was going on. It was a very scary situation,” he said.
The delay lasted 30 minutes before police relocated Argentina fans to a separate section, allowing the match to proceed. Once underway, Argentina secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from former Manchester City defender Nicolás Otamendi. Brazil’s Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton was sent off, and the loss marked the first home World Cup qualifying defeat for Brazil.
The result leaves Argentina atop the South American qualifying table, eight points ahead of Brazil, who sit sixth after three consecutive defeats, narrowly inside the final spot guaranteeing a place at the 2026 World Cup.
The incident follows similar unrest two weeks earlier during the Copa Libertadores final at the same stadium, when fans of Brazilian side Fluminense and Argentine club Boca Juniors clashed violently.
Messi’s warning highlights growing concerns over fan safety in high-stakes matches, emphasizing the need for careful security planning to prevent further incidents that could endanger players and spectators alike.
