SINGAPORE – It’s one of the biggest games in international football: Brazil vs Argentina – the clash of the South American giants.

The two sides will meet tomorrow (Oct 11) in Beijing, marking a century after they first faced off on a football field in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Sept 20, 1914.

Since then, there have been a total of 95 clashes between the two rivals. Argentina narrowly has a better record with 36 wins, compared to Brazil’s 35.

What makes this rivalry so special, apart from the fact that the countries are neighbours, is that both teams have produced, and are still producing, some of the greatest footballers in history.  Argentina’s Diego Maradona or Brazil’s Pele are both considered among the greatest footballers of all time (depending on who you ask), while Lionel Messi or Neymar (who will face off tomorrow) could easily take their throne.

Ahead of the match - which will be shown live here on Starhub at 8pm - we recap some of the most memorable matches in recent history of this epic rivalry.

1. MARADONA KICKS OPPONENT (BRAZIL 3-1 ARGENTINA: JULY 2, 1982, BARCELONA, SPAIN)

Till today, the 1982 Brazil World Cup team is known as the best team to have never won the tournament. But Argentina were no slouches either. They were the defending champions and had Diego Maradona, then-the world’s most expensive player, in their team.

The game was a one-sided affair as Brazil’s slick one-touch pass-and-move game overwhelmed the opposition. Diego Maradona was so frustrated that he got himself sent off for kicking Brazil’s João Batista late in the game.

2. THE ‘HOLY WATER’ INCIDENT (ARGENTINA 1-0 BRAZIL: JUNE 20, 1990, TURIN, ITALY)

Two ‘miracles’ happened during this game. Firstly, Maradona was supposed to be injured, yet he played and created the only goal of the match after dribbling past five defenders.

The second ‘miracle’ was more controversial. Brazilian defender Branco accused Argentina’s training staff of giving him a bottle of water laced with tranquillisers during the match.

Notably, by some bizarre coincidence, this was also the last time the two teams have played at the World Cup against each other, despite their successes in later tournaments.

3. RED MIST DESCENDS ON BOTH TEAMS (ARGENTINA 3-2 BRAZIL, JULY 17, 1991, SANTIAGO, CHILE)

In a game filled with bad blood, five players were sent off during this Copa America tie in Santiago, Chile. 

Argentina’s Claudio Caniggia and Brazil’s Mazinho were given their marching orders in the 31st minute for fighting, and 30 minutes later, Enrique and Marcio Santos too received red cards for the same offence.

In the 80th minute, Brazilian substitute Careca was sent off as well, just two minutes after coming on the field.

4. ADRIANO’S LAST MINUTE EQUALISER STUNS ARGENTINA (BRAZIL 2-2 ARGENTINA, BRAZIL WON 4-2 ON PENALTIES, JULY 25, 2004, LIMA, PERU)

Argentina were the overwhelming favourites coming into the final of the 2004 Copa America and were leading Brazil 2-1 until the last minute of injury time, when Adriano scored a magnificent equaliser.

Brazil’s Julio Cesar later made two outstanding penalty saves, helping his nation become the champions of South America for the seventh time.

5. AN UNDERDOG STORY (BRAZIL 3-0 ARGENTINA, JULY 15, 2007, MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA)

Like the last Copa America final, Brazil were once again the underdogs in this clash to be crowned the best in South America.

Apart from Robinho, Brazil lacked any bona fide superstar in their team. Argentina on the other hand had Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Juan Sebastian Veron, Javier Mascherano, Juan Roman Riquelme, Esteban Cambiasso, Roberto Ayala and Javier Zanetti in their starting eleven.

Brazil’s Julio Baptista scored first in the 4th minute, and from then on the team worked hard to negate Argentina’s stars.

6. A LIONEL MESSI MASTERCLASS (ARGENTINA 4-3 BRAZIL, JUNE 9, 2012, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES)

There’s one thing that most football fans already know: It’s almost impossible to stop Lionel Messi when he’s on form.

Brazil learnt that lesson in this friendly game against Argentina, when Lionel Messi scored an amazing hat-trick, with each goal better than the last. 

The game was tied with five minutes remaining when Messi picked up the ball close to the halfway line, dribbled all the way to the edge of the Brazilian penalty box and curled in an almost impossible to stop shot.

Are there any more memorable games you can think of? Share with us your thoughts below.