Argentina vs. Brazil: 10 Great Goals from Down the Years

Argentina's meetings with Brazil are unmissable dates on the football calendar. Be they World Cup qualifiers, Copa America games or even friendlies, nobody on either side gives less than 100 per cent against their fiercest rivals. 

Saturday sees the two South American titans lock horns again. Beijing plays hosts to two new faces on the bench, as Gerardo Martino and Dunga look to make a statement one year ahead of the Copa America in Chile.

The fixture has never disappointed in terms of action. Here are 10 of the very best goals to grace Argentina-Brazil matchups down the years, with the likes of Pele, Kaka, Claudio Caniggia, Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi pitching in with strikes that will be remembered for a long time.  

10. Rivaldo vs. Argentina, 1999

Brazil's Rivaldo was a one-off talent. Playing for Barcelona, Deportivo or Brazil, the playmaker could change games with one stroke of his magical left foot. 

This free-kick in the 1999 Copa America helped Brazil take a 2-1 victory over their archrivals and left the Argentina 'keeper absolutely rooted to the spot. 

9. Gabriel Batistuta vs. Brazil, 1995

Gabriel Batistuta was a natural goalscorer like few others in world football. The Fiorentina legend scored goals wherever he went, and he still holds the scoring record for Argentina ahead of Lionel Messi, with 56 in international colours. 

This thunderbolt against Brazil in the 1995 Copa America crept in at the near post, but it was hit with such force that it is hard to blame the Selecao 'keeper for failing to keep it out. 

8. Julio Baptista vs. Argentina, 2007

Argentina went into the 2007 Copa America hopeful of achieving great things. A team driven by the talents of Juan Roman Riquelme, Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez were brilliant all the way to the final, where they faced a deciding clash with a more muted Brazil team. 

In the final, however, it was a different story. The Albiceleste had no answer as Brazil stepped up through the gears, destroying Alfio Basiles team in an easy, 3-0 victory. 

Julio Baptista revelled in scoring against the old enemy, and his wicked looping strike past Roberto Abbondanzieri put the Brazilians ahead after just four minutes. 

7. Gabriel Batistuta vs. Brazil, 1991

We have already seen what Batistuta could do with his feet. But the record-breaking striker was also more than proficient smashing the ball home with the head, as he proved against Brazil in 1991. 

Having scored twice in the first-half through Dario Franco, Argentina were well placed in the Copa America final. Just after the break, Batistuta struck to extend the lead to 3-1 with a bullet header, connecting perfectly with Leonardo Rodriguez's cross. 

Argentina went on to win 3-2 in Chile, taking the Copa America crown with a total of six strikes from top-scorer Batigol. 

6. Dani Alves vs. Argentina, 2007

After Julio Baptista had given Dunga's Selecao an early lead in 2007, there was more to come from the Brazilians. Roberto Ayala turned past his own 'keeper before Dani Alves stepped up with a brilliant strike to round off the victory in Venezuela. 

Robinho's long-range pass opened up the stage for Vagner Love, who twisted and turned before slipping in a brilliant ball behind the Argentine defence. Alves, then aged 24, had never stopped running from right-back and finished the move off perfectly to put the outcome of the Copa America final beyond any doubt. 

5. Juan Roman Riquelme vs. Brazil, 2005

There was a time during the first decade of the 21st century that nobody looked capable of matching Juan Roman Riquelme on a football field. The former Boca, Barcelona and Villarreal star was a temperamental being, but there was simply no stopping him on his better days. 

This move for this strike back in 2005 started and ended at the feet of the incomparable playmaker. A delightful backheel got Argentina moving, and when the ball found its way back to Roman, he let loose with a turn and shot that left the Brazil net bulging. 

4. Pele vs. Argentina, 1970

Sadly, few videos of South American clashes remain from that golden age in the 1950s and '60s when Brazil and Argentina both boasted wonderful talents. But at least this beauty from Pele, scored at the peak of his powers in 1970, has survived. 

Former Racing Club 'keeper Agustin Cejas is one of the best No. 1s to ever pull on the Argentina shirt, but he was left dumbfounded here by Pele's invention. O Rei looped the ball over Cejas' head from the edge of the area, executing the strike with all his trademark skill and invention. 

3. Lionel Messi vs. Brazil, 2012

Whisper it quietly if you feel the need to point out this was a friendly match. Any win over Brazil is cause for celebration over the border, and if it comes courtesy of an inspired Lionel Messi hat-trick, all the better. 

A startling individual effort finally broke the resolve of a young Selecao preparing for the Olympics in 2012, as Argentina ran out 4-3 winners with three goals coming from their captain. La Pulga appears to take on the entire team before finishing with his usual coolness and sparking the Albiceleste celebrations. 

2. Kaka vs. Argentina, 2006

But Messi's goal was, in a way, a late response to Kaka's magic all the way back in 2006. The former Real Madrid star always relished clashes with Argentina, and in this friendly in London, he gave an exhibition of his talents. 

The playmaker started his run from deep in his own half, but no Albiceleste man could even get close to him during a 60-yard sprint to goal. A delicate low finish capped off the move—startling stuff from a man who was arguably the greatest player on the planet at that time. 

1. Claudio Canniggia vs. Brazil, 1990

"And although many years have passed, we will never forget, that Diego dribbled past, and Caniggia stuck it in, you've been crying since Rome until today. Brazil, tell me how it feels!" Brazil fans were certainly sick of being reminded, to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Bad Moon Rising, roughly 20 hours a day during the 2014 World Cup how Diego Maradona and Claudio Caniggia combined to destroyed their dreams 24 years previously. 

The goal that inspired the Argentina faithful's infuriatingly catchy song was a masterpiece from two of the nation's most enigmatic geniuses. Maradona ripped apart the Brazil defence and played the most perfect of passes into his partner of crime. 

Caniggia did the rest, rounding Brazil's last line of defence and finishing to put Argentina 1-0 up in the World Cup quarter-final. The individual brilliance of the pair, added to the fact that it came in the rarest of settings—a World Cup clash between the two nations—makes this the best goal scored in a Brazil-Argentina encounter.