The Argentina–Brazil rivalry has always been one of the most exciting matchups in international soccer, and the upcoming clash in the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup Qualifiers has sparked yet more controversy. Ahead of the game, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni addressed the rumors surrounding the potential display of the 2022 World Cup trophy against Brazil.
Reports from Argentine outlets on Monday morning revealed that the Argentina Football Association (AFA) was considering a response to Raphinha and several Brazilian players who had fueled the pre-match tensions. The idea was to showcase the 2022 Qatar World Cup trophy as the Argentina and Brazil teams entered the field at the Monumental Stadium.
The idea went viral on Monday morning, and reached Argentina coach. During The rumor quickly gained traction and reached Scaloni. During his pre-match press conference, he was asked about the possibility of displaying the trophy. He gave a straightforward response: “There is no possibility of that happening tomorrow, they should have told us. No, absolutely not.”
After Argentina won the World Cup in 2022, FIFA temporarily handed the original trophy to Argentina for a few days. Since then, the organization has provided a replica, which will remain with the AFA until the 2026 World Cup draw in Canada, the USA, and Mexico.
Scaloni quickly put an end to any speculation, confirming that the trophy would not be displayed during the game against Brazil. It will remain in the AFA’s possession and be returned to FIFA in 2026.
Argentina legend Di Maria responds to Raphinha
“We’re going to give Argentina a beating, no doubt.” These words from Raphinha during his interview with Romario TV stirred controversy ahead of the match. While no other members of the Argentina national team directly responded to Raphinha’s comments, Scaloni chose to dismiss them and adopt a more measured approach.
However, one player who did respond was Angel Di Maria, now retired from the national team. In a comment on an ESPN Instagram post featuring Raphinha’s interview, Di Maria posted three laughing emojis. The comment quickly garnered over 30,000 likes, making his stance on the situation abundantly clear.
