Argentina delivered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Brazil in their World Cup qualifying clash on Wednesday, turning a fiery pre-match buildup into a statement victory at the Estadio Monumental. The scoreline alone was historic, but the context made it unforgettable.

All eyes were on Brazil's Raphinha ahead of the game after his explosive comments on Romario TV, where he boldly promised Argentina would be "beaten up" both on and off the pitch.

The Barcelona winger, known for his flair, added further fuel to one of world football's most intense rivalries by guaranteeing he would score and suggesting the game would turn more physical than necessary.

But when the match began, it was the Argentine side that brought the heat. Julián Alvarez opened the scoring and Lionel Scaloni's men never looked back, dominating in every department. Brazil's performance was toothless, and Raphinha, the man who stirred the storm, was completely ineffective — failing to back up his words on the pitch.

Argentina's players were quick to respond after the match, letting their football and their post-game remarks do the talking. Midfielder Leandro Paredes didn't hold back in his assessment of Raphinha's comments and performance, saying, "You don't have to talk beforehand, you don't have to say all those kinds of things when you can't prove yourself on the pitch. We continue to show ourselves every day in every training session and in every game we play."

Julian Alvarez also took a subtle jab at the Brazilian forward, saying the team was further motivated by the disrespect. "Obviously, that way of speaking adds spice to a match like this. We, with humility and hard work, played a great game and gave it a run for its money."

Rodrigo De Paul, ever passionate in the Argentina shirt, gave perhaps the most forceful response. "Nothing's happening. There, on the pitch, we did what we had to do. We never disrespected anyone and in all these years we've been disrespected quite a bit. Nobody helped us, we got there on our own and we continue to prove it. We've been the best team of all for about five or six years. Let him respect us."

Coach Lionel Scaloni, known for keeping emotions in check, offered a more diplomatic take. He claimed he hadn't focused on Raphinha's comments before the match and even defended the Brazilian's intent. "I forgive Raphinha because I know he didn't do it on purpose, he's defending his national team. With or without statements, we were going to play our game and so were they."

The result now stands as one of Argentina's most dominant performances over their long-time rivals in recent history — a night where the defending world champions showed not just their class, but their character. For Raphinha, it was a night to forget. For Argentina, it was another glorious chapter in their reign at the top.