Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, has provided an explanation for leading his team off the pitch and into the dressing room during their 1-0 victory over Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The decision to walk off was prompted by an attack on Argentina supporters by the police before the match at the Maracana Stadium. Ugly scenes unfolded as police charged at visiting fans during the Brazilian national anthem, leaving some supporters bloodied and in need of medical assistance. Argentina players, including goalkeeper Emi Martinez, rushed to the away end to alleviate the tension, with Martinez even attempting to disarm a policeman holding a baton.
Messi ultimately made the decision to guide his team off the pitch, leading to a significant delay. When the players returned, the heated atmosphere spilled onto the field, resulting in clashes between players. The match eventually kicked off, featuring a fiery contest that saw Nicolas Otamendi score the lone goal, while Joelinton was sent off for an altercation with Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul.
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After the game, Messi addressed reporters, stating, “We saw how the police were hitting people, also with some of our families here too. It also happened already in the Libertadores final here too [between Argentine side Boca Juniors and Brazilian side Fluminense]. They are more focused on that than on playing the game. We are a family. We went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down; a tragedy could have happened today.”