Argentina's record against Brazil under Lionel Scaloni: Better than Maradona, Sampaoli

The Argentine National team has fallen in good times recently. After a wretched run of bad luck that saw them lose 3 Copa America finals in a row, the Abiceleste finally won the much-coveted title in the summer of 2021. In what was an anti-climatic finale, Argentina clinched the title by defeating Brazil, on Brazilian soil, by a solitary Angel di Maria goal. 

Coach Lionel Scaloni succeeded where many before him had failed. The roll call of coaches to have taken charge of the Argentine National team includes Diego Maradona, Jorge Sampaoli, Gerardo Martino and Allejandro Sabella. All of these coaches had one job: Harness Lionel Messi's skills to win the Copa America. All of them failed at it. 

However, since Lionel Scaloni has been appointed as the Head coach of the national team in 2018, the 43-year-old has overseen massive changes in the Argentine team. Doing away with older players who were not offering much like Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, the former Lazio midfielder was not afraid to make the tough calls. Especially in contests against their eternal rivals, Brazil.

Since the Rosario-born took charge of the Abiceleste in 2018, they have faced the Selecao four times with Argentina winning 2 and losing 2. In October 2018, at the King Abdallah Stadium in Jeddah, both sides met in the Superclasico Championship where Brazil won the match by 1-0 courtesy of a Miranda goal. Both sides met again at the 2019 Copa America and once again the Samba boys came up trumps, with Gabriel Jesus and Firmino scoring for a 2-0 scoreline. 

However,  the fortune of Argentina has turned against Brazil. Led by Lionel Scaloni, Argentina secured a 1-0 victory over Brazil at the Superclasico de las Americas held at the King Saud University Stadium in  Riyadh. And the most significant match of all of Lionel Scaloni's matches was the 1-0 victory over defending champions Brazil at the 2020 Copa America final. Angel di Maria was the goalscorer, ending decades without an international trophy while also helping to draw Scaloni level with 2 wins and 2 losses against Brazil for the duration of his reign so far.