Brazil fans have written off Selecao’s chances of beating Argentina after Emerson Royal and Marquinhos were named in Fernando Diniz’s starting XI. Selecao sit fifth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table heading into tonight’s encounter with La Abiceleste. They are five points off Lionel Scaloni’s leaders as the two South American powerhouses battle at the Maracana.
Diniz has opted to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation to try and halt Argentina’s excellent start to the qualifying campaign. Alisson Becker starts in goal, with Emerson and Marquinhos joined in defense by Gabriel Magalhaes and Carlos Augusto. Andre and Bruno Guimaraes are in midfield, while Raphinha, Rodrygo, and Gabriel Martinelli sit behind Gabriel Jesus.
Diniz’s decision to start Emerson and Marquinhos hasn’t gone down well with fans, despite Emerson’s impressive performance for Tottenham Hotspur and Marquinhos’ consistency for Paris Saint-Germain. The duo will be charged with trying to keep the likes of Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez quiet at the Maracana.
Marquinhos fired a warning to his Brazil teammates about the prospect of facing Argentina hero Lionel Messi. The veteran defender knows just how irrepressible Messi is, having played with him at PSG. He emphasized the need to limit Messi’s participation in the game, acknowledging that most of what Argentina does goes through Messi.
Lionel Messi has been in superb form during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, managing three goals in four games, taking his overall international tally to 106 goals and 56 assists in 179 caps.
Overall, the article discusses Brazil’s chances against Argentina and the concerns surrounding the inclusion of Emerson and Marquinhos in the starting lineup. Additionally, it highlights Marquinhos’ warning about facing Lionel Messi and the impact the legendary forward has on Argentina’s gameplay.
