'Shouldn't say things you can't prove' - Raphinha remarks sent round Argentina WhatsApp group as motivational fuel before 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over Brazil

Before the highly anticipated World Cup qualifier, Raphinha made one costly mistake by suggesting Brazil would beat Argentina "on and off the pitch." He also ended his interview with Brazil legend Romario by simply saying "f*ck them". On the pitch, the Barcelona star was involved in several altercations with opposing players as Brazil were thrashed 4-1 by Argentina, including Leandro Paredes, who had plenty to say about the winger's words.

In an interview after the game, the Roma midfielder said: "You shouldn't talk about it beforehand, you shouldn't say these kinds of things when you can't prove it on the pitch. They sent it to the WhatsApp group and we discussed it. Whenever this kind of thing happens, we stand up for ourselves, and we did it again."

Ultimately, the talking is done on the pitch and Argentina showed once again why they have had more success than Brazil in recent years. If the Selecao are to catch up to their South American rivals, they need to find a way to utilise the abundance of talent they have in their squad.

Brazil will turn their attention to June when they face Ecuador and Paraguay in the next round of World Cup qualifiers. Two more losses would raise serious concerns that they may not automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament.