Brazil player ratings vs Argentina: Vinicius Jr unable to rescue Selecao! Humiliating defeat as Rodrygo disappoints and Endrick goes unnoticed in a World Cup qualifying rout – all without Lionel Messi on the field.
The reigning world champions delivered a masterclass against their fierce South American rivals, with Matheus Cunha’s goal being one of the few bright spots for Dorival’s team.
It was a night to forget for Brazil, as Dorival Junior’s squad was outplayed, outcoached, and completely outclassed by Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina in a crushing 4-1 defeat—one that secured Argentina’s spot in the World Cup.
Julian Alvarez opened the scoring just four minutes into the match, followed by Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez doubling the lead in the 12th minute. Brazil briefly found hope when Matheus Cunha struck midway through the first half, cutting the deficit to one goal.
However, Argentina restored their dominance just nine minutes later when Alexis Mac Allister made it 3-1 before halftime. Dorival responded with three substitutions at the break, introducing Leo Ortiz, Endrick, and Joao Gomes, but none of the changes made a difference.
Argentina sealed their dominant victory with a stunning goal from Giuliano Simeone in the 71st minute. The Atlético Madrid forward found the net from an almost impossible angle near the touchline, leaving Bento helpless as the ball rocketed into the roof of the net.
With this defeat, Brazil sits fourth in the South American World Cup qualifying standings, accumulating 21 points from 14 matches. Their crucial win over Colombia on Thursday has helped keep them on track for automatic qualification.
Here’s how we rated Brazil’s players from their performance at the Estadio Mas Monumental…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Bento (5/10):
Thrust into a difficult situation due to Alisson’s injury. While he had little chance of stopping any of the goals, his performance didn’t inspire much confidence.
Guilherme Arana (4/10):
Struggled to cope with Argentina’s attacking width. A tough outing for him.
Marquinhos (5/10):
Led the team as captain in a disappointing defeat. Showed resilience at times, but his weaknesses were exposed.
Murillo (5/10):
Had a solid first half but was substituted at the break, as Dorival was clearly unhappy with the defensive pairing.
Wesley (5/10):
Overwhelmed by Argentina’s speed and sharp counter-attacks, leaving him exhausted by the end.
Midfield
Joelinton (5/10):
Had a tough time maintaining possession and handling Argentina’s relentless press. Substituted at halftime.
Andre (6/10):
Given a starting role after a brief appearance last week, he found it difficult to push the ball forward but managed to put in a few solid tackles.
Attack
Raphinha (7/10):
Showed flashes of promise throughout the game, but his final delivery was lacking. Still, he was the most active threat in Brazil’s attack.
Vinicius Junior (6/10):
Had some impressive moments on the ball, with his pace playing a key role in counterattacks. However, as the game progressed, Argentina’s relentless pressing nullified his impact.
Matheus Cunha (7/10):
Finished his goal well and had a few positive moments on the counter, but was largely uninvolved for most of the match.
Rodrygo (4/10):
A disappointing international window, with another underwhelming performance. Substituted at halftime.
Subs & Manager
Endrick (5/10):
Came on at halftime but made little impact. Virtually invisible throughout.
Leo Ortiz (6/10):
Introduced after the break but struggled to settle into the game. An uninspiring but not disastrous cameo.
Joao Gomes (5/10):
Added some tempo in midfield after replacing Joelinton but lacked the intensity to match Argentina’s aggression.
Savinho (N/A):
Entered with 20 minutes left, but the game was already out of reach.
Ederson (N/A):
Came on in the 84th minute with no real time to influence the match.
Dorival Junior (3/10):
Once again, ran out of tactical solutions. Despite Brazil’s progress under him, his inability to adapt remains a concern. Scaloni outcoached him, exposing Brazil’s full-backs and neutralizing their attack, leading to an embarrassing defeat.
