Lionel Messi led his Argentina lineup off the field because of a brawl between rival fans in Brazil, delaying the start of their South American World Cup qualifier by 27 minutes Tuesday at the Maracana Stadium. Messi's squad returned from the locker room after it was deemed to be safe and went on to win a tense match 1-0, staying on the pitch to celebrate with their fans long after the final whistle. “There was family of the players (there). We were more worried about that than playing the match,” Messi said after the match. “We did that (going to the locker room) because that was the way to make it all calm. From below, we couldn’t do much, we saw how they (police) hit people.” Read: Argentina beats Brazil 1-0 in World Cup qualifying after crowd violence delays start Players of both teams had earlier asked fans for calm, with Argentina goalkeeper Dibu Martinez racing to one of the rails in front of the visiting fans and urging police to stop the violence. Police used batons to break up the fights in the crowd, which started minutes after the national anthems echoed around the stadium. Parts of seating and other objects were thrown from both sides and hit some spectators behind one of the goals, and at least one fan left the stadium bleeding from his head. Argentina returned after 22 minutes in the locker rooms, and warmed up for several minutes before the game was finally started. Dozens of police surrounded Argentina fans as they cheered during the match, and even more security faced toward them on the pitch. Police gathered around the section that can hold about 3,000 fans. Col. Vagner Ferreira, the highest-ranking police officer in the stadium, blamed organizers for the lack of a barrier between home and visiting fans. He defended the actions of police. Read: Messi seeks 1st goal against Brazil in World Cup qualifying, hosts try to avert crisis in Rio “Every action demands a reaction. There is a history of confrontation here. At first we spoke to them. Then, we had to use our batons. There was no lethal force involved, no rubber bullets, no tear gas. This was a very technical approach,” Ferreira told TV channel SporTV. All 69,000 tickets for the match in Rio de Janeiro were sold. Brazil fans, who jeered and applauded Messi before the brawl began, chanted against him when he returned to the pitch. Brazil players remained on the pitch and warmed up while waiting for the Argentina team to return. Argentina leads South American World Cup qualifying with 15 points from six games. Brazil is in sixth position. Both teams had lost their previous games in the 10-team round-robin competition. The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina started at the club level and grew after the Argentinians won their first World Cup title in 1978. The Brazilians beat Argentina 3-1 in the second phase of the 1982 World Cup, and the Argentines responded with a 1-0 victory eight years later in the round of 16. The reginal rivals have since played fierce matches in World Cup qualifying and in Copa America, but not in World Cups. They were expected to face off in the semifinals last year in Qatar, but Brazil was knocked out by Croatia in the quarterfinals before Argentina went on to win the title for a third time. Read: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh team make gym, recovery session in Melbourne Sunday  The heated debate over who is the best footballer in history, with most Brazilians going for Pelé and Argentinians split between Messi and Diego Maradona, has also intensified the rivalry. On Nov. 4, Brazil's Fluminense won the Copa Libertadores final at the Maracana Stadium after a week of street fights between some of its supporters and those of Argentina's Boca Juniors.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia will host a match between Argentina and Brazil, famously known as SuperClasico, on June 11 this year. This will be considered a friendly contest between the arch-rivals. As the five teams, including an inter-confederation playoff, confirmed last March, this Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match reportedly will not replace the suspended World Cup qualifier. This is expected to be a multi-million-dollar contest. The match details and squad information of Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match are discussed in this article. Was there ever a match between Brazil and Argentina at the MCG? Argentina and Brazil previously played a SuperClasico match at the MCG arena back in June 2017. The match was held on June 9 at the packed MCG stadium. The estimated crowd attendance was 95,579. This indicates how popular both Argentina and Brazil’s football teams are around the globe. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the local crowds regarding this fixture. Fans from other countries also visited Australia just to watch the showdown between the two heavyweight football nations. Tickets for this Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match will be up for grabs from April 21 (Thursday). Read Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks Argentina beat Brazil in that match by a solitary goal. In the 45th minute, defender Gabriel Mercado scored the winning goal. Argentine sensation Lionel Messi did participate in the match, but Neymar was absent. Both Messi and Neymar are expected to play in the match, which will serve as a warm-up for their participation in the Qatar World Cup in 2022. With this fixture, the Australian government is expected to generate the same kind of enthusiasm among football lovers in that territory. They also expect this match will boost their economy as there were strict health restrictions in Victoria State during the outbreak of the coronavirus. Read 2nd phase of BPL Football begins Sunday Argentina vs Brazil: Head-to-Head Record  Both sides have met each other on 109 occasions, in which Brazil have led head-to-head contests with 43 wins. On the other hand, Argentina have won 40 matches and 26 of them ended in a draw. Argentina scored 162 goals, while Brazil have netted 166 times against their arch-rivals. Brazil and Argentina have met four times in the FIFA World Cup, where Brazil have won twice, Argentina have won once, and the other match ended in a draw. However, in Copa America, Argentina have won 16 times and Brazil have won 10 times in 34 meetings between them. Read AFC Cup: Williams guides Mohun Bagan to group stage eliminating Abahani Argentina vs. Brazil 2022: Squad Information Both sides will be looking to put their best XI together in order to dominate the contest. Coaches will also give chances to certain players who are not confirmed for the World Cup 2022. So, this will be a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents against quality opposition. Let’s take a look at the probable starting XI for both teams. Argentina (possible XI) Emiliano Martinez (GK); Nahuel Molina (RB), Nicolas Tagliafico (LB), Cristian Romero (CB), Nicolas Otamendi (CB); Rodrigo De Paul (MF), Leandro Paredes (MF), Giovani Lo Celso (MF), Angel Di Maria (MF), Lautaro Martínez (FW), Lionel Messi (FW). Read Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation Brazil (Possible XI) Alisson Becker (GK); Danilo (RB), Marquinhos (CB), Thiago Silva (CB), Alex Telles (LB); Casemiro (MF), Bruno Guimaraes (MF), Fabinho (MF), Vinicius Junior (FW), Rodrygo (FW), Neymar (FW). Verdict The forthcoming Argentina vs Brazil 2022 football match at the MCG in Melbourne will be a real showdown for football lovers. This match promises to be tightly contested as Brazil will be eagerly waiting to take revenge for their defeat to Argentina in the Copa America 2021 final at the Maracana Stadium. Oppositely, Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina team are currently on a 31-match unbeaten streak and they need to remain undefeated for seven more games in order to surpass Italy’s 37-match unbeaten record. Overall, the MCG in Melbourne is a perfect venue to host a mega contest between two of the giants of football.  Read Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?

The most popular footballers from the South American continent are Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Neymar da Silva. Both have a vast fan following across the world due to their outstanding footballing talents. Without a doubt, these two individuals are the most important players for their respective countries and will make a difference in the Copa America 2021 final, which will be held at the Maracana stadium on Sunday (11th July) at 6 a.m. (BST).Messi and Neymar have been outstanding in this year's competition. Their overall impact on the Copa America 2021 tournament leading up to the final is discussed in this article.  Lionel Messi's Copa America 2021 Record Ahead of the Final Lionel Messi has been in superb form since the start of the Copa America 2021 competition. He has directed the Albiceleste with wisdom in order to win a major tournament for the first time in 28 years. Argentina have not won a Copa America event since 1993. Read Brazil and Argentina clash in a soccer final for 5th time. They've participated in four South American Championship finals and a 2014 World Cup final in Brazil since then, but have yet to win a tournament. So, this is most likely Messi's final realistic chance to win a major event with Argentina's national team. Messi has scored goals in a variety of ways in this competition. He has scored from Penalties, free kicks, and a well-executed counterattack. He has assisted his teammates in scoring goals particularly Lautaro Martinez. This young striker found his rhythm in the midst of the competition and earned a spot in the starting XI in place of veteran Sergio Aguero. Lionel Messi has also shown outstanding chemistry with midfielders Giovani Lo Celso, Rodrigo de Paul, and Papu Gomez. Argentina and Messi have done well because this collection of players gels well together. Read AFC U23 Asian Cup: Bangladesh drawn in strong Group D. Messi has already set a number of records in this tournament, including the most international matches for Argentina, 150 international appearances, the most assists in a single Copa America tournament, and the most six Copa America appearances for Argentina. Lionel Messi will play most of 34 matches in Copa America history if he appears in the final.If he scores in the final on Sunday, he would become the most international scorer in the South American continent. Messi is now one goal away from equaling Pele's 77 goals in international games. Lionel Messi’s Copa America 2021 Stats Matches: 6* | Goals: 4| Assists: 5 Read Euro 2020 final: Italy holds historical edge over England. Neymar da Silva's Copa America 2021 Record Ahead of the Final Brazil are the defending champion, and Neymar da Silva has steered the Selecao with flair in order to retain the trophy. He has been in outstanding form since the beginning of the Copa America 2021 competition. The last time we witnessed a Brazil-Argentina final in 2007.  Brazil won that South American Championship with a 3-0 victory against Argentina in the final. Read English FA charged with offenses after win. Despite Neymar has only scored two goals in five games, he is the driving force behind Brazil's attack. Neymar's excellent vision and rapport with teammates Lucas Paqueta, Everton, Casemiro, Fred, and Richarlison have boosted Brazil's successful attack on the opposition's defense. Brazil have maintained their dominance in the midfield throughout the tournament and is arguably the best team in the competition. Led by Neymar, Brazil have found solid options in the offensive half, and finding a space in Brazil's defense to earn a goal will be a difficult task for Argentina. Neymar has appeared in over 100 international matches for Brazil and is a seasoned professional. Neymar will be even more motivated to help Brazil win their 10th South American championship against Messi's Argentina, as a victory in the final will solidify his position as one of the best players of his generation.  Read Ex-Madrid captain Sergio Ramos signs 2-year deal with PSG. Neymar’s Copa America 2021 Stats Matches: 5* | Goals: 2| Assists: 3  MessivsNeymar: Head to Head Record Messi and Neymar have played each other four times on the international level, with each winning twice. Aside from the international arena, the two have only met once at the club level.  Messi's Barcelona routed Neymar's Santos 4-0 in the 2011 Club World Cup final. Messi first met Neymar on the international arena in 2010, when Argentina overcame Brazil 1-0 in a friendly match. Messi scored the only goal in that encounter. Two years later, Messi's dazzling performance in a friendly at the East Rutherford, New Jersey stadium shocked the Brazilian fans. Messi's hat-trick gave Argentina a 4-3 victory over Brazil. Read BPL, BCL Football resume July 14. Neymar's Brazil came out on top (2-0) in a friendly match against their arch-rival Argentina in 2014. Messi missed a penalty kick in that match. The only time Neymar scored against Messi's Argentina in a 2016 World Cup qualifying match, where Brazil won the contest 3-0. As per the above statistics, Messi now has a 3-2 head-to-head advantage. Messi has also scored six goals, whereas Neymar has only scored once.  Bottom Line Lionel Messi has a small edge over Neymar da Silva after assessing who has had the most influence on their national sides in the ongoing Copa America 2021 competition prior to the final. However, no one can ignore Neymar's outstanding performance against Peru in the semifinals, which helped Brazil reach the final. Both Lionel Messi and Neymar will give it their all to win the tournament for their respective countries. Therefore, a dramatic final between these two teams at the famous Maracana stadium is expected. Read Italy vs England Final: EURO 2020 Match Preview.