Brazil and Argentina look like World Cup challengers again

Messi and Neymar have always been under a lot of pressure at the World Cup, but both teams are trying not to rely too much on their superstars, who will participate in Qatar's tournament.

Brazil has almost overtaken the top spot in the FIFA rankings, and Argentina has not lost a single game in 1,000 days. So the two powers of South American football have more than Neymar and Lionel Messi heading their trip to the World Cup in Qatar in hopes of ending their 20-year European reign.

Both sides failed in Russia in 2018; Argentina lost in the last 16 to champions France and Brazil in the quarter-finals to Belgium. But now they're looking great again, each with a strong line-up, a respected coach, and a superstar forward who can decide games on his own.

Brazil has broken their points record in South American qualifying with 45 points, six ahead of second-placed Argentina before the two met in the last game, suspended in the previous year. However, Argentina won the 2021 Copa America title, beating Brazil 1-0 in the final and giving Messi his first international title. Messi and Neymar have always been under a lot of pressure at the World Cup, but both teams are trying not to rely too much on their superstars, who will participate in Qatar's tournament. Brazil has found midfield support in Lucas Paketa and an aggressive striker in Vinicius Jr to ease the pressure on Neymar. Argentina has made Rodrigo de Paul a key player in keeping Messi and bringing out the best in winger Lautaro Martinez.

Despite a squad full of reinforcements, Brazil beat Bolivia 4-0 in the climax in La Paz on Tuesday. "I feel calm now," said Brazil coach Tito.

Tito's advantage over rival Lionel Scaloni is greater flexibility with his team. Playing with Neymar as a center-forward, Packet as a boxer with Filipe Coutinho as a playmaker, he found excellent young options upfront in Rafinha, Anthony, Rodrigo, and Matheus Cunha.