Julian Alvarez delivered a brutal dig at Brazil after being asked about Lionel Messi not playing in Argentina’s 4-1 victory.
Argentina claimed a huge win over Brazil in their World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.
Alvarez opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez doubled his team’s lead just eight minutes later.
Wolves’ Matheus Cunha pulled one back, but Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister restored Argentina’s two-goal advantage, with Giuliano Simeone adding a fourth in the second-half.
The World Cup holders produced a stunning result without their talisman Messi, who was sidelined with a minor muscle injury.
He withdrew from Argentina’s squad ahead of the March international break.
But Messi wasn’t missed against Brazil as Argentina secured a famous victory over their old rivals.
After the game, Alvarez was asked about Messi’s absense.
The former Manchester City forward suggested Argentina would have scored ‘two or three more goals’ had Messi been on the pitch.
“Maybe with Leo Messi on the pitch we might have scored 2/3 more goals,” he told reporters.
Messi watched Argentina beat Brazil as he took to social media to react to their win.
On his Instagram story, he uploaded an image from the game, accompanied with several clapping hand emojis.
Rodrigo De Paul also shared his thoughts on Argentina’s victory.
“We have never disrespected anyone beforehand. Over all these years, we have been disrespected quite a lot. No one helped us. We achieved everything on our own. And we keep proving it,” he said.
“For the past six years, we have been the best national team of all. Let them respect us.”
Argentina are now 10 points clear of Brazil in the World Cup qualifying standings.
La Albiceleste have 31 points on the board while the five-time World Cup winners have 21 points to their name.