In a thrilling day for South American football, both Argentina and Brazil showcased their prowess in the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, with Argentina achieving a historic 6-0 victory over Bolivia and Brazil securing a commanding 4-0 win against Peru.
Argentina`s Record-Breaking Performance
At Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina delivered a mesmerizing performance, led by the ever-humble Lionel Messi. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring, but it was Messi who stole the spotlight, netting a hat-trick and assisting two other goals. This victory not only marked Argentina`s largest margin of victory in World Cup qualifying history but also made Messi the first player in South American qualifiers to record three hat-tricks.
The scoring commenced in the 19th minute when Messi converted a pass from Martínez, deftly beating Bolivia’s goalkeeper, Guillermo Viscarra. He later set up Martínez for a straightforward tap-in and assisted Julián Álvarez with a long free-kick pass, concluding the first half with Argentina leading 3-0. The second half saw further goals from Thiago Almada and Messi, who completed his hat-trick in the closing minutes with a skillful left-footed finish.
With this victory, Argentina tops the qualifying standings with 22 points from 10 matches, while Colombia and Uruguay follow with 19 and 16 points, respectively.
Brazil`s Strong Showing
On the same day, Brazil displayed their strength with a 4-0 triumph over Peru in Brasília. Raphinha was the standout player for the five-time world champions, scoring two goals from the penalty spot. Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique added the third and fourth goals, respectively.
Brazil’s first goal came in the 38th minute after a handball by Peruvian defender Carlos Zambrano, which was confirmed by VAR. Raphinha converted the penalty to give Brazil the lead. He struck again in the 54th minute after another penalty was awarded for a foul on Savinho.
The highlight of the match was Pereira’s stunning volley in the 71st minute, showcasing Brazil`s attacking flair. Henrique capped off the performance with a spectacular left-footed goal shortly thereafter, marking his second consecutive match with a goal.
With this win, Brazil secured their fifth victory in the qualifiers, placing them fourth in the standings with 16 points, just behind Uruguay on goal difference.
As the qualifiers progress, both Argentina and Brazil look poised for success, with Argentina leading the pack and Brazil continuing to build momentum. The top six teams will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-placed team may still have a chance through an intercontinental playoff.
