Messi was seen pointing to the scuffle and speaking with match officials before walking off the pitch with the rest of his teammates.
There was a 30-minute delay in the kickoff of the Brazil vs Argentina FIFA World Cup qualifier match due to clashes among rival supporters in the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The much-anticipated blockbuster between South American football’s two superpowers was due to kick off at 6 AM (IST) but was held up after disturbances in the stands.
The Brazil and Argentina players had lined up for their respective national anthems when the cameras turned toward the stands where a section of Brazil and Argentina fans were seen exchanging blows.
The footballers on the pitch appeared to be quite shocked by the disturbing visuals.
As police went in to calm the mob unrest and resorted to a lathi charge, the scenes became ugly. At one end of the stadium, local police were spotted using batons to repress Argentina fans. This certainly did not sit well with Argentina’s Lionel Messi-led team.
Messi Shows His Leadership
Messi was seen pointing to the scuffle and speaking with match officials before walking off the pitch with the rest of his teammates.
The Argentine World Cup-winning captain appeared to clear his intentions that he didn’t want to play the match and nor did his teammates.
Argentina’s players returned to the pitch shortly after, and the action began at 6:30 a.m. (IST).
Many Argentinians believe that the pursuit of their country’s latest World Cup victory began for genuine at Maracana Stadium more than two years ago.
There, Angel di Maria and Lionel Messi helped end Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought with a 1-0 win over Brazil in the Copa America final.
Both teams are coming off losses in the last round of qualifying; the locals were defeated 2-1 in Colombia, while the World Cup champions were routed 2-0 at home by Uruguay.
Argentina leads the 10-team South American qualification group after five matches, with 12 points. Uruguay is in second place with 10 points. Colombia has nine, whereas Venezuela has eight. Brazil, in fifth place with seven points, will host the World Cup champions.
Ecuador, Paraguay, and Chile each have five points. Bolivia has three, but Peru only has one.
The top six South American teams will have direct access to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The seventh-place team has a chance to go to an intercontinental playoff.
