Football
Argentina vs Brazil: Top 10 Scorers in Superclasico History
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The two most successful South American nations, Argentina and Brazil, share one of the fiercest rivalries in football. Both teams push themselves to the limit, leading to some unforgettable battles.
Over the years, the Latin American giants have locked horns 110 times, with O Selecao winning 45, La Albiceleste 42, and 23 games ending all square. These Superclasicos have given rise to legendary footballers, and in the list below, we will take a look at the top 10 who have had the most impact.
us as we count down at the top 10 goalscorers in the history of Brazil vs Argentina.
Note: We have compiled this list after cross-checking multiple data sources. Due to limited comprehensive data, there could be some unfortunate errors, but we will continue to update the list to the best of our ability.
Additionally, in case of a draw, we have put younger players higher in the rankings.
#10 Neymar (Brazil): 3 Goals*
Only the second active player on this star-studded list, Brazil superstar Neymar, has gotten on the scoresheet three times against Argentina so far. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has also chipped in with four assists in 11 Superclasicos. He has scored twice in friendlies (8 games) and once in the CONMEBOL South American qualifiers (2 games).
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 games, has won five Superclasicos, lost four, and drawn two.
#9 Ademir (Brazil): 4 Goals
In ninth place, we have Ademir de Menezes, who scored four goals in five Superclasicos against Argentina. He celebrated two victories with O Selecao and suffered three defeats.
Ademir enjoyed a stellar international career with Brazil. Playing 39 games for his country, the formidable forward hit the back of the net 32 times. Ademir enjoyed his finest campaign at the 1950 FIFA World Cup, as he scored eight goals to win the coveted Golden Boot.
#8 Rivaldo (Brazil): 4 Goals
Brazil legend Rivaldo proved to be quite a handful in Superclasicos, with him scoring four goals against his country’s bitterest rivals Argentina. The former Barcelona man also chipped in with an assist in the seven games he played against the three-time world champions.
Three of his goals came in friendlies (3 games) while the remaining one came in the 1999 Copa America. Rivaldo celebrated five wins against Argentina and suffered two defeats.
#7 Norberto Mendez (Argentina): 5 Goals
Argentina icon Norberto Mendez, who scored five Superclasico goals, is the seventh name on our list. He took only three games to pierce the Brazilian net an impressive five times.
Mendez, who operated as an attacking midfielder, enjoyed a remarkable run in the Copa America. He scored 17 goals in as many matches in the tournament, winning the competition three times with Argentina.
Mendez’s most memorable Copa America performance came against Brazil. He scored a brilliant hat-trick as his country claimed a 3-1 victory over their bitterest rivals in a Group 1 clash at the 1945 Copa America.
#6 Ronaldo (Brazil): 5 Goals
One of the finest strikers football has ever seen, Ronaldo Nazario, scored five goals against Argentina in only six Superclasicos. He also showcased his selflessness and creativity by chipping in with three assists. He scored three goals in World Cup qualifying, once in the Copa America, and one time in friendlies.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner delivered his finest performance in the sole CONMEBOL qualifier he played against Argentina. In June 2004, Ronaldo scored a smashing hat-trick to secure a 3-1 win for his country.
#5 Lionel Messi (Argentina): 5 Goals*
Benefitting from the recency bias, the legendary Lionel Messi has claimed the fifth spot in the rankings. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has hit the back of the netting five times in 14 appearances against Brazil so far. All of his goals have come in international friendlies (6 games).
The 37-year-old delivered his finest performance against Brazil in June 2012. The Inter Miami ace scored a smashing hat-trick as La Albiceleste claimed a narrow 4-3 victory over their rivals.
#4 Herminio Masantonio (Argentina): 6 Goals
Ex-Argentina centre-forward, Herminio Masantonio, found the back of the net seven times against Brazil. He reached his remarkable tally in only six outings. The legendary forward played 19 international games for his country, scoring 21 times.
Masantonio played for Huracan, Defensor SC, and Banfield from 1931 to 1945. Between 1931 and 1943, he played 366 games for Huracan, scoring 265 goals and emerging as the club’s all-time top scorer.
#3 Leonidas da Silva (Brazil): 7 Goals
Former Brazilian forward Leonidas da Silva scored seven times against Argentina in nine Superclasicos. Leonidas, who arguably invented the “Bicycle Kick”, got all his goals in friendlies.
Hailed as “The Black Diamond”, Leonidas finished as the top scorer at the 1938 FIFA World Cup with seven goals in only four outings. Before hanging up his boots, the Brazilian great played 19 international fixtures, scoring 21 times.
#2 Emilio Baldonedo (Argentina): 7 Goals
Emilio Baldonedo is Argentina’s record goalscorer in Superclasicos, with him scoring seven times against Brazil. The data on 1916-born Baldonedo is rather limited, with FIFA only reporting six international appearances for him.
Baldonedo played for Huracan, Newell’s Old Boys, Monterrey, and Puebla FC. His spell at Huracan, which ran from 1934 to 1945, was the most memorable. He scored an impressive 167 goals in 257 games for the club from Buenos Aires.
#1 Pele (Brazil): 8 Goals
Arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Pele has claimed the top spot, scoring a whopping eight goals against Argentina. The record three-time FIFA World Cup victor took only 10 matches to reach his chart-topping tally.
As per Transfermarkt, Pele also chipped in with three assists against La Albiceleste. Seven of his eight goals came in friendlies, with the other one coming in the 1959 Copa America.
Despite Pele’s heroics, Brazil did not dominate Argentina. With the World Cup hero in their ranks, Brazil recording four wins, four losses, and two draws in Superclasicos.