After 20 years, neither Messi nor Neymar will be in the Argentina-Brazil match

 

The Brazil-Argentina duel in football is already historic. Every match turns the page of some record. This time, however, the duel has become historic before it even takes the field. That was after the final squads of the coaches of both teams were announced. Just as Lionel Messi is not in the Argentina team, Neymar is also absent from the Brazil team. The two best stars of both teams will be unable to play in this match due to injuries. That is why the page of history has to be turned with this duel.

Because Messi and Neymar are not often absent in Brazil-Argentina matches, the question is, when was the last time a Brazil-Argentina match was seen without either Messi or Neymar? Then we have to go back almost 20 years—to June 29, 2005, the now-defunct FIFA Confederations Cup final in Frankfurt. In that final, Brazil defeated Tevez-Riquelme's Argentina 4-1 to become the champion.

For almost two decades, either Messi or Neymar has played in Brazil-Argentina matches, or both have been seen facing each other.

Messi made his debut for Argentina in a friendly match against Hungary on August 17, 2005. Messi made his debut for the main national team against Brazil on September 2 of the following year. In that match at the Emirates Stadium, Alf Basile's Argentina lost 3–0.

Neymar made his debut for Brazil in a friendly match against the United States on August 10, 2010. Two months later, on November 17, Neymar faced Argentina for the first time in a friendly match. Brazil lost the match 1-0.

Since his debut in the Argentina team, Messi has faced Brazil 16 times, winning 8, losing 2, and losing 6 matches. However, Messi could not play in six matches against Brazil during this time. Neymar was again in the Brazil team in these six matches. Five of the six matches that Messi did not play were friendly matches. Of these, Argentina won one and drew one and lost three matches. The competitive match was a World Cup qualifier where the two arch-rivals drew 1-1.

Neymar has played 11 matches against Argentina so far, winning 5, drawing 2 and losing 4 matches. Messi played in the five matches between Brazil and Argentina that Neymar was absent from. Brazil could not do well in the 5 matches that Neymar did not play. Two draws and one loss against one win.

Argentina will play two matches this month in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Lionel Scaloni's team will face hosts Uruguay in Montevideo early Saturday morning Bangladesh time. Then, on March 26, their opponent will be arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires. Messi was in Scaloni's initial squad announced on March 2 for these two matches, but Messi did not make the final squad announced by coach Scaloni yesterday due to injury.

In the World Cup qualifiers, Brazil will face Colombia in Brasilia on March 21, Bangladesh time. After that, the Argentina match has already been mentioned. Although Neymar was initially included in the squad for these two matches, Brazil coach Darival Junior said on Friday that Neymar could not be included in the team due to his injury while playing for Santos. He has not regained his fitness to play.

Argentina is at the top of the South American qualifiers with 25 points from 12 matches. Uruguay is second with 20 points from the same number of matches. Brazil is fifth on the points table with 18 points from 12 matches. The top six teams from the South American continent will receive direct tickets to the 2026 World Cup. The seventh team will have to play in the play-offs.