Harry who?! Watkins makes England case as Kane watches on

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Why Man Utd & Liverpool both want Argentine teen Soler

Top 25 African players of the 21st century - ranked

Vini's nightmare goes on as Brazil drop more WCQ points

Mendes responds to Ronaldo criticism of Portugal players

'Please leave him alone!' - Deschamps sends out Mbappe plea

Where's Leo?! Messi invisible as Argentina upset by Paraguay

Amorim told he's already made his first mistake at Man Utd

How to watch Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson from anywhere

Ronaldo stunner the cherry on top for five-star Portugal 

Twellman reportedly investigated for physical altercation

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Neymar makes claim after fiery match</li><li>Brazilian touches on 'hot' atmosphere</li><li>Brazil lost 1-0 to Argentina</li></ul>

'Hell of a mess' - Neymar claims he would have been 'hit a lot' during bad-tempered Brazil vs Argentina clash as injured Al-Hilal superstar reacts to 'hot' atmosphere at Maracana

World Cup Qualification CONMEBOL

Argentina

Peru

Brazil

Uruguay

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/brazil-player-ratings-vs-argentina-raphinha/blt2f0ab1ff4258d375" target="_blank">Brazil lost 1-0 to Argentina</a> at the Maracana in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, with Nicolas Otamendi grabbing the winning goal. Meetings between the old rivals are always fiery affairs, but pre-match violence inside the stadium involving supporters and Brazilian police added fuel to the fire. Neymar missed the match due to his ACL injury, but claimed he would have been targeted had he played.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In his Instagram Story, <a href="https://www.record.pt/multimedia/videos/detalhe/neymar-e-o-ambiente-quente-no-brasil-argentina-eu-ia-apanhar-muito-nesse-jogo?ref=HP_Ultimas" target="_blank">Neymar said</a>: "Good game, classic, hot game. I was going to get hit a lot in that game, but I was going to make a hell of a mess." Neymar suffered an <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/neymar-era-over-brazil-plan-2026-world-cup-without-al-hilal-star-risk-wasting-golden-generation/blt23c120fce0f09761#cs2d26b7ac1ecaabc0" target="_blank">ACL injury while playing for Brazil</a> in October, just months after he left Paris Saint-Germain to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

WHAT NEYMAR SAID

Chaos erupted during the singing of the national anthems as unsegregated Brazil and Argentina fans began fighting. Brazilian police left several Argentine fans injured when trying to subdue supporters, leading <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-calls-end-crazy-repression-argentina-fans-brazil-crowd-violence-albiceleste-victory-maracana/blt01adf7b6e85e9638" target="_blank">Lionel Messi </a>and his team-mates to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watch-emiliano-martinez-charges-police-officer-attempts-to-take-baton-argentina-brazil-chaos-fan-violence/bltc11ed74fe257d860" target="_blank">head over to the stand</a> to check on their safety. Argentina ultimately earned their first-ever away win in Brazil in a World Cup qualifier and inflicted a third straight defeat on their bitter rivals.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Neymar still has a long road ahead of him before he returns to action, although he should be back before Brazil's next World Cup qualifier in September next year. Brazil have won just two of their six qualifiers so far but will turn their attention to a friendly against England at Wembley in March.

WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR BRAZIL?

'Hell of a mess' - Neymar claims he would have been 'hit a lot' during bad-tempered Brazil vs Argentina clash as injured Al-Hilal superstar reacts to 'hot' atmosphere at Maracana | Goal.com

Neymar has claimed that he would have been &quot;hit a lot&quot; if he had played in Brazil&apos;s bad-tempered clash with Argentina on Tuesday.

&apos;Hell of a mess&apos; - Neymar claims he would have been &apos;hit a lot&apos; during bad-tempered Brazil vs Argentina clash as injured Al-Hilal superstar reacts to &apos;hot&apos; atmosphere at Maracana