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Fans showered a lot of praise on Argentina star Emiliano Martinez, who found himself at the epicenter of the controversy and chaos that unfolded at the Maracana stadium. The FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier with hosts Brazil was thrust into an unexpected delay due to unrest that erupted within a section of the stands.
The commencement of the game was postponed by 28 minutes due to altercations among the rival fans. This quickly led to the Brazilian police looking to take control of the situation, which saw aggressive engagements between the security staff and Argentine supporters.
Amid this, players from both sides moved towards the scene of turmoil, seemingly in an effort to pacify the situation. However, it was Emiliano Martinez, Argentina's goalkeeper, whose actions garnered particular attention.
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Martinez was observed in a confrontation with a member of the security personnel, showing his displeasure at how the police were treating the fans. He attempted to fight a police officer and push away a baton from the officer's grasp.
While this ultimately led to his restraint by a fellow Argentine international, his efforts to stop the violence did not go unnoticed on Twitter. Fans voiced their admiration for shotstopper's bravery, with one fan stating:
“Such a gladiator”
Another fan said:
“Next captain of Argentina”
Here is a selection of their tweets:
Brazil lose 1-0 to Argentina
Brazil appeared to hold the upper hand in the first half, with Raphinha and Gabriel Martinelli threatening to score towards the end of the first half.
The former unleashed a shot in the 39th minute that grazed the Argentine wall and arched agonizingly over the crossbar. Meanwhile, Martinelli's well-struck volley in halftime stoppage time was thwarted by a stray knee at the far post.
However, in the second half, Argentina, who had weathered the Brazilian storm, struck with lethal precision. The 63rd minute winner came from an unlikely source - Nicolas Otamendi, who headed to score only his sixth goal in 108 international appearances.
Joelinton was sent off following a straight red card in the 81st minute after he shoved Rodrigo de Paul in an off-the-ball moment of frustration.
