Brazil 0-1 Argentina, RESULT: Lionel Messi settles Superclasico in Riyadh after scoring penalty rebound just moments after Gabriel Jesus missed spot-kick at other end

  • Argentina defeat their South American rivals Brazil in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
  • Lionel Messi gave Argentina the lead with rebound after Alisson saves penalty 
  • Gabriel Jesus with terrible penalty miss inside the opening 10 minutes 

South American rivals Brazil and Argentina clash today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Brazilian side will be without Neymar who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury with Lionel Messi set for his first international appearance since his sending off in Copa America third-place play-off against Chile.

Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino will hope to repeat their Copa America semi-final goals against Argentina, which resulted in them winning 2-0 and going on to be 2019 champions.


Sportsmail's Adam Shergold will provide live coverage of Brazil vs Argentina including score, lineups and build-up.

  • Adam Shergold

    Host commentator

19:03

Argentina have the bragging rights over Brazil after Lionel Messi's penalty secured a slender victory against their fierce rivals in Qatar.

In a fiery game anything but friendly, Messi marked his first appearance for Argentina since being sent off against Chile at the Copa America in July by scoring to extend his country's unbeaten run to five games.

This fixture is rarely lacking in drama, and there was plenty of it inside the first quarter of an hour. Argentina failed to get clear, with Spurs defender Juan Foyth giving away possession and allowing Gabriel Jesus to bear down on goal - only to be bundled over in the box by German Pezzella.

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18:59
FULL-TIME: Brazil 0 Argentina 1

That's it in Saudi Arabia and it's Argentina who take the bragging rights in the latest instalment of the South American Superclasico.

It all came down to the fast reactions of Lionel Messi, who tucked away the rebound after Alisson saved his spot-kick. 

That came a couple of minutes after Brazil's Gabriel Jesus had rolled a penalty wide down the other end. 

Argentina actually controlled the second half and are good value for the win here.

18:58
90+5min - Time running out for Brazil

Into the final seconds of the contest now with time running out for Brazil to score...

18:55
90+2min - Clash of heads

A Brazil corner and two players clash heads as they compete for it in the middle - Thiago Silva was trying to reach it and hit his head on Nicolas Gonzalez. 

Both appear to be fine to carry on. 

18:53
90min - Dominguez on

22,541 in the crowd, it is announced. Just a couple of thousand shy of the capacity at the King Saud Stadium.

Will they see Brazil gain an equaliser? 

Argentina wasting time with more subs - Nicolas Dominguez on for De Paul. 

FIVE minutes added.

18:51
88min - Argentina sub

Argentina with the sub now - Lautaro Martinez, who missed a couple of superb chances, taken off and on comes Lucas Alario.

18:49
86min - Wesley comes on

Brazil with perhaps a final role of the dice - Wesley has come on for Casemiro.

A Brazil debut for the Aston Villa man.

18:48
85min - More Argentina chances

Lautaro Martinez nearly finds the net this time. A heavily deflected shot from 20 yards range that was almost dropping in but just cleared the bar with Alisson looking a little worried.

From their next attack, a stunning cross by Messi and there was Otamendi of all people at the back post, stooping amongst the defender's boots but unable to make contact.

18:46
82min - Argentina change

Change for Argentina with Guido Rodriguez comes on for Paredes.

18:44
80min - Lautaro wasteful

Argentina should have put this game to bed a long time ago. Another great chance, this time Lautaro Martinez, who cushions a cross following a corner but leans backwards and shoots wastefully over the top.

Looks worse on second viewing because he was only 10 yards out and should have made the net bulge there.

18:42
78min - Acuna well over

More fancy footwork by Messi unlocks the Brazil defence - they can't get out at the moment - and in the end Acuna blasts one over from 25 yards. 

Brazil running out of time very quickly if they want to rescue this game. 

18:39
76min - Alisson denies Paredes

15 minutes left on the clock and Argentina looking more likely to score a second at the moment. Ferocious effort from range by Paredes is turned over the bar by Alisson.

18:37
74min - Argentina sub

Argentina sub now as the second-half struggles for flow - Lucas Ocampos is taken off and on comes Nicolas Gonzalez 

18:36
73min - Paredes booked

That's the sixth booking of the night - Argentina's Leandro Paredes for a foul. 

18:34
71min - Two Brazil changes

Another two changes for Brazil, who are making full use of their bench. Willian goes off and Rodrygo comes on. Richarlison is also on the field for Gabriel Jesus.

18:32
67min - Messi free-kick touched over

That challenge on Messi has given Argentina a pretty good free-kick position some 40 yards out. Will Messi be tempted to shoot?

He does and Alisson is required to touch his on target effort over the bar.

18:30
65min - Militao booked

Another flash of the yellow card - this time for Eder Militao with a rather rudimentary bodycheck on Lionel Messi as the Argentine star threatened to break through the middle.

18:28
65min - Another Brazil change

Brazil with their third change of the night as Alex Sandro is taken off and Renan Lodi replaces him.

18:27
62min - Tagliafico booked

That's a poor challenge by Tagliafico, from behind on Willian in the centre circle and clearly a yellow card.

18:26
61min - Danilo shot wasted

Coutinho has made a real impact since coming on at half-time. He charges down the right but is forced back by Tagliafico. In the end, Danilo lets fly but drags his effort wide at the near post. 

18:25
60min - Ocampos fires over

Hearts in mouth in the Brazilian defence as Lionel Messi is almost played into a shooting position. They come forward again and Lucas Ocampos lets fly from a very tight angle and clears the bar.

Argentina's Giovani Lo Celso, center, is fouled by Brazil's Danilo, right
18:23
59min - Brazil free-kicks

Brazil with a couple of set-piece opportunities, both of which are taken by Coutinho and both are cleared well by Argentina. 

A change for Argentina, their first of the game, as Marcos Acuna comes on for Lo Celso. 

18:18
55min - Brazil sub

Brazil make their second sub of the evening as Fabinho comes on for Arthur Melo.

18:15
51min - Brazil threaten

Brazil on the attack for the first time since the break with Philippe Coutinho making a quick impact with a delightful ball over the top into Gabriel Jesus. He controls but can't cut back inside to shoot. In the end, Willian's effort is closed down.

18:13
50min - Argentina on top

Argentina have dominated the ball since half-time as they probe in search of that second goal that could well seal the contest. 

18:08
SECOND-HALF: Argentina get us back underway

We are back for the second-half in Riyadh and there's a substitution for Brazil with Philippe Coutinho coming on for Lucas Paqueta as they chase that equaliser.

17:51
HALF-TIME: Brazil 0 Argentina 1

There is the half time whistle and it's advantage Argentina in a tale of two penalties.

Brazil won the first one but Gabriel Jesus rolled his penalty woefully wide of the post.

Then, two minutes later, Lionel Messi won one at the other end. His kick was actually saved by Alisson, but Messi was alert to pounce and score the rebound.

So Argentina heading for victory as it stands.

17:50
45min - Willian doesn't shoot; Messi denied

Should Willian have gone for goal? The Argentine keeper Andrada well off his goalline after a mix up in the defence. The Chelsea man must have been tempted to shoot from 40 yards but resisted and Argentina got away with it. 

Down the other end and Lionel Messi is suddenly in the clear. He waits for the perfect moment to shoot but Alisson got his angles spot on and makes the low save.

That was a superb chance to double Argentina's lead.

17:47
43min - De Paul booked

Another yellow card - this time for Argentina midfielder De Paul for what is really an accumulation of fouls in this first half.

17:40
36min - Danilo cross-shot

Argentina almost caught cold there. Nice play by Brazil, who are enjoying a lot of the ball at the moment. Danilo on the overlap down the right and is picked out. He shapes to deliver a cross but it's more of a shot and flies uncomfortably close to the Argentine goal.

17:38
35min - Jesus penalty appeals waved away

Quick feet by Gabriel Jesus in the Argentina box as he tries to work a shooting position. He goes to ground but rather too easily and there won't be a chance to atone for that earlier penalty miss this time.

17:37
33min - Brazil free-kick

Paqueta pops up on the right hand side and is fouled by about three Argentine players in succession before Brazil are given a free-kick. Searching ball by Willian but Juan Foyth with a strong header away.

Lionel Messi on the run
17:34
30min - Paqueta wide

Better play by Brazil with Willian doing very well to deliver a cross from the left side. Roberto Firmino and Lucas Paqueta almost got in one another's way and the latter whips a shot well wide as a result.

17:31
27min - Danilo booked

A second Brazil player into the referee's notebook - Danilo left his boot in when challenging Giovani Lo Celso. Studs on boot. Yellow card.

17:29
25min - Casemiro walking a tightrope

Casemiro walking a tightrope after that booking but he still fouls Lucas Ocampos close to the touchline on the right and Messi can swing in a free-kick. 

Whipped into the near post and easily cleared.

17:26
22min - Casemiro booked

The first card of the game as Rodrigo De Paul is sent rolling about six times over the turf following what was a 50-50 challenge with Casemiro going for the ball. It's a booking for the Brazil midfielder.

The resulting free-kick is dinked into the box by Messi but it's not good enough and floats out of play. 

17:24
20min - Firmino not quite in behind

Danilo attempting the ball in behind at the opposite end, searching for Roberto Firmino. But Otamendi did enough to close down the space and the keeper collects.

17:23
19min - Thiago with the important intervention

Ocampos seeking to set Messi in behind Brazilian lines once again and it requires a well-timed sliding tackle by Thiago Silva to stop the Barcelona man breaking away.

17:17
GOAL! Brazil 0 Argentina 1 - Lionel Messi 13mins

And Lionel Messi gives Argentina the lead - but only at the second time of asking!

It's a great save first of all by Alisson, who guessed correctly and dived to his right to parry it. But Messi closed in and reacted quickest to score with the rebound. 

It's first blood to Argentina! International goal No 69 for the great man.

17:16
PENALTY TO ARGENTINA

Now it's Argentina's turn to be awarded a spot-kick! Lionel Messi into the game for the first time, played into space and Alex Sandro is always struggling.

The Brazil defender can only haul him down and that's a second penalty of the game.

17:13
10min - Terrible penalty miss by Gabriel Jesus!

Goodness me, that's an absolutely terrible penalty by Man City's Gabriel Jesus.

He rolls the ball past the right-hand post. Just awful and he'll be kicking himself after that.

It comes after he did something similar for City against Atalanta the other day. So poor.

17:12
PENALTY TO BRAZIL

Panic stations in the Argentina defence and Brazil have themselves a penalty. They failed to clear their lines with Juan Foyth giving the ball away and allowing Gabriel Jesus to burst into the box. He is brought down by Pezzella and a clear penalty.

17:10
6min - Gabriel Jesus shot

Now it's Argentina's turn to dawdle on the ball inside their own box as keeper Andrada bravely dribbles the ball past the lurking Gabriel Jesus after Nicolas Otamendi sold him short with a back pass.

The game's first shot follows shortly afterwards - low but understruck by Gabriel Jesus and it's an easy save for the Argentine keeper.

17:07
4min - Messi challenges Thiago

Lionel Messi in trouble as he dumps Thiago Silva onto his backside with a robust challenge close to the touchline. Just a free-kick. 

17:06
2min - Sloppy start by Brazil

Not the best start for Lucas Paqueta as he gives the ball away THREE times while Brazil are playing it out from the back. Argentina not quite coordinated enough to capitalise.

17:04
KICK--OFF: Brazil get us started

Chants of 'Messi, Messi' from the crowd in Riyadh as he meets Thiago Silva, the Brazil captain, in the centre of the field for the pre-match formalities.

And, we're finally ready to begin in the Saudi capital. Roberto Firmino kicks us off.

16:59
National anthems and handshakes

They line up on the field for the respective national anthems, first that of Brazil and then Argentina. 

16:55
The teams are in the tunnel

Right then, here we go...

The two sets of players have assembled in the tunnel at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh. Looks like almost a packed house. 

Brazil in their familiar yellow and blue, while Argentina appear to be in their change colours of dark navy.

16:49
10 minutes until kick-off... Here's a reminder of the two teams

Brazil: Alisson, Danilo, Eder Militao, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro, Casemiro, Arthur, Lucas Paqueta, Gabriel Jesus, Willian, Firmino
Substitutes: Santos, Fuzato, Emerson, Renan Lodi, Felipe, Marquinhos, Fabinho, Douglas Luiz, Coutinho, Rodrygo, Richarlison, Wesley

Argentina: Andrada, Foyth, Pezzella, Otamendi, Tagliafico, De Paul, Paredes, Lo Celso, Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Ocampos
Substitutes: Marchesin, Musso, Damian Martinez, Acuna, Alario, Dominguez, Dybala, Gonzalez, Kannemann, Aguero, Pereyra, Perez, Rodriguez, Rojo, Saravia.

16:44
The atmosphere builds in Riyadh

Incidentally, the angry-looking bird mascot in the Brazil kit is called Canarinho. I kid you not...

16:40

Yet another masterclass from Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday evening has moved him ever closer to the milestone of 100 international goals.

The 34-year-old grabbed the 55th hat-trick of his career as he helped Portugal ease to a 6-0 victory over Lithuania, putting him just two away from the century.

His haul of 98 is the best of any player still pulling on the shirt for their national side, and while he cannot quite lay claim to the best tally for any international player ever – that record still belonging to Iran’s Ali Daei – he is in a league of his own when it comes to comparisons against the other big nations.

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16:31
Here's the Argentina team line-up

Andrada; Foyth, Pezzella, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Ocampos, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, Martinez, Lo Celso.

16:25
Confirmation of the Brazil team line-up

Alisson; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Eder Militao, Alex Sandro; Arthur, Casemiro, Paqueta; Gabriel Jesus, Roberto Firmino, Willian

Substitutes: Santos, Daniel Fuzato, Emerson, Renan Lodi, Felipe, Marquinhos, Fabinho, D Luiz, Coutinho, Rodrygo, Richarlison, Wesley

16:18
The fans are starting to arrive at the King Saud Stadium

The King Saud University Stadium, which opened in May 2015, has a capacity of 25,000 and is the home of Saudi club side Al-Hilal.

It's also going to stage the Supercoppa Italiana between Juventus and Lazio on December 22.

16:11

Argentina and Brazil lock horns for the 111th time in Saudi Arabia on Friday evening to renew one of football's most iconic rivalries.

Brazil have won a record five World Cups to Argentina's two and hold an advantage in the head-to-head history of the two proud footballing nations, having won 46 matches to the Albiceleste's 39.

The most recent of those resulted in a 2-0 win for Brazil's Selecao at this summer's Copa America, which they went on to win.

With so many of the world's greatest ever players having hailed from Argentina and Brazil, Sportsmail has put together an all-time combined XI ahead of Friday's clash.

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE SELECTIONS

16:03

Lionel Messi returns to action for Argentina on Friday against their arch rivals Brazil in what will be his first international appearance since being banned for three months after claiming Copa America referees were 'corrupt'.

Messi was furious in the wake of the 2-0 semi-final defeat by eventual winners Brazil in July, claiming that Sergio Aguero should have been awarded a penalty with the score at 1-0.

In post-match interviews Messi did not attempt to hide his fury, lamenting 'bulls*** calls' by the referee and claiming that 'Brazil controls everything'.

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16:01
Here's the Brazil team arriving a short time ago (and one mean looking mascot...)
15:59
It's one of the world's greatest rivalries

It doesn't really matter where in the world they meet, matches between Brazil and Argentina never fail to provide entertainment. 

These two leading South American nations resume their never-ending rivalry in the surroundings of the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this evening.

It's just a friendly match in name but in reality it could easily be a feisty and fractious affair.

Welcome along to our live coverage of what is a 5pm kick-off UK time.