Argentina–Brazil football rivalry
Marcelo (Brazil) and Lionel Messi (Argentina) during a match of the 2008 Summer Olympics | |
| Other names | Superclassic of the Americas Spanish: Superclásico de las Américas Portuguese: Superclássico das Américas |
|---|---|
| Location | South America (CONMEBOL) |
| Teams | Argentina Brazil |
| First meeting | 20 September 1914 Friendly Argentina 3–0 Brazil |
| Latest meeting | 25 March 2025 2026 World Cup qualifiers Argentina 4–1 Brazil |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | Disputed |
| Most wins | Disputed According to many sources Argentina (41), According to many sources Argentina (43) According to many sources Brazil (43). |
| Most player appearances | Javier Zanetti (16) |
| Top scorer | Pelé (8) |
| Largest victory | Brazil 1–6 Argentina Roca Cup (5 March 1940) |
The Argentina–Brazil football rivalry is a sports rivalry between the national football teams of Brazil and Argentina. The rivalry is considered one of the biggest and fiercest in international football and FIFA has described it as the "essence of football rivalry". As both local and regional federation rivals in South America, clashes have been described as both the Battle of the Americas or the Superclassic of the Americas (Spanish: Superclásico de las Américas; Portuguese: Superclássico das Américas). Initially a cordial friendly competition between the two nations, the ferocity of the rivalry grew in the early part of the 20th century, marked by repeated controversial high-profile incidents and periods of refusing to play each other.
The games between the two nations are known for both the high degree of skill and capability of the respective players, as well as a high level of competitiveness at a personal, federation and national level. The two teams are routinely considered to be among the best in the world, and commonly among the favourites for football tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and CONMEBOL Copa América. They are also routinely ranked among the top national teams in the world in both the FIFA World Rankings and the World Football Elo Ratings.
As a matter of sporting pride, the two nations have produced players who in their own eras have often been considered to be the best in the world. This includes players such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi for Argentina and Pelé, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho from Brazil.
In head to head comparison of senior titles, Brazil has won five FIFA World Cups while Argentina has won three. In contrast Argentina has won the Copa América sixteen times, compared to Brazil's nine. Moreover, the two nations have also seen success in other inter-confederation competitions, such as the FIFA Confederations Cup, won four times by Brazil and once by Argentina, the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, that Argentina won twice and Brazil none, and the Panamerican Championship, won twice by Brazil and once by Argentina.