Otamendi Gives Strong Reply To Raphinha: Veteran Argentina footballer Nicolas Otamendi has given a strong reply to Brazilian attacker Raphinha following the former’s massive 4-1 win over Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Argentina vs Brazil was a fixture of Matchday 14 out of 18 of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers as the two South American giants took on the most looked-forward-to match of the qualifiers. Before this match, the Argentines were on top of the 10-team table, while Brazil were in third. The top six teams automatically qualify for the World Cup.
The match, which was played at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires, saw scoring start soon after kickoff as Julian Alvarez scored in just the fourth minute of the match to give La Albiceleste the lead. Enzo Fernandes then doubled the lead in the 12th minute.
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With the visitors already 3-0 down, the pressure was on them. So, they retaliated in style, with attacker Matheus Cunha reducing the deficit in the 26th minute. However, before halftime, Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister increased the difference between the teams to two goals once again, scoring in the 37th minute to make it 3-1.
After dominating the first half, Argentina were much quieter in the second half. On the other hand, the Salecao were desperate to send the ball into the net. However, that did not happen. The last goal of the match was Argentine as well, with Giuliano Simeone making the final scoreline 4-1 in the 71st minute, burying the match.
This match was a nightmare for the star-studded Brazilian front line. Rodrygo on the left wing had a terrible outing, Vinicius Jr right up front showed flashes of good football, and Raphinha on the left wing was consistently decent.
Otamendi Gives Strong Reply To Raphinha
However, it is Raphinha who is facing some backlash following the match, not for his performance but for his words before the game. Before the Argentina vs Brazil clash, the Barcelona striker told great Brazilian Romário that his team would give Argentina “a beating” on the pitch, saying,
“We’ll beat them up… Absolutely! Beat them up! On the pitch and off the pitch if we have to. For sure, I’m going to (score a goal against Argentina). I’m going in with everything I’ve got.”
Following the match, veteran Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi had a short yet brilliant reply for Raphinha, telling him to
“Talk less,” said Otamendi.
Otamendi must have heard what Raphinha said before the match
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 26, 2025pic.twitter.com/EogGrVhhNn
Despite the absence of Lionel Messi, Argentina defeated their arch-rivals in dominating fashion. This win keeps them at the top of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL qualifiers with 10 wins, one draw, three losses, and 31 points on the table. On the other hand, Brazil has now fallen to fourth on the table with Uruguay drawing their match against Bolivia. The five-time world champions have six wins, three draws, five losses, and 21 points in 14 games.
Check Out: Otamendi Gives Strong Reply To Raphinha
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