Ahead of Argentina and Brazil’s eagerly awaited match, Angel Di Maria’s clever answer to Raphinha’s controversial comments has caused a surge of laughter on social media. The former Leeds United player, who is currently playing for Barcelona, didn’t hold back in an explosive interview before the most recent Clásico de las Américas. We’re going to beat the hell out of them. Absolutely. Both on and off the field, if needed, let’s beat them up. In what seems to be an exciting matchup between the two national teams, Raphinha told Romario TV, “I’m going to prank them, and they can deal with it.”

Brazil has the opportunity to retaliate for their historic loss at Maracanã, which was their first home loss in a World Cup qualifying match, and to maintain their lead in the standings. With just four games remaining in the qualifying round, Argentina’s task is simple: a single point will guarantee their place in the next World Cup.

As anticipated, Raphinha’s scathing remarks were not ignored. Angel Di Maria, a cherished Argentine football star, was one well-known individual who spoke out. Despite his retirement from international competition following his Copa America victory in 2024, Di Maria has maintained ties to Lionel Scaloni’s team. On social media, he frequently shows his support for the squad and interacts with former teammates, and this time was no exception.

Di Maria responded to a post on Instagram that included a video of Raphinha making audacious claims in a playful manner. Without saying a word, the World Cup champion expressed his amusement at the Barcelona forward’s remarks with a few emojis that portray laughter. Fans were moved by this lighthearted answer, which soon received over 6,000 likes and 200 comments, generating excitement among his following, especially those in Argentina. Even though Di Maria’s response was spoken from a distance, it was successful in raising the stakes for the historic bout.