Argentine players thriving in Brazilian football

The fierce football rivalry between Brazil and Argentina is not keeping Argentine players from succeeding in Brazil.

Fans from many of Brazil's top clubs have set the rivalry aside and are giving their full support to the Argentines helping their teams thrive in the Brazilian league.

Andres D'Alessandro, Dario Conca and Walter Montillo are among the Argentines making a splash in Brazil, putting their teams in contention for the title to earn headlines across the country.

The three are skillful playmakers, which Brazilian clubs have long been struggling to find locally.

Conca has been key for league leader Fluminense, helping the team with important goals and numerous assists. The 27-year-old midfielder, who played for River Plate before moving to Brazil in 2007, scored a goal and set up another in Fluminense's 2-1 victory over Vitoria in Salvador on Sunday. The result was crucial for Fluminense, lifting it to first place in the 20-team standings.

''Conca is the best player in his position in Brazil,'' Fluminense defender Leandro Euzebio told local media. ''He should get Brazilian citizenship to try to play for our national team. With all respect to the coaches of the Argentine national team, it seems they don't understand anything about football not to summon a player of his quality.''

Montillo also has been important for Cruzeiro, leading the team's charge to third in the standings, four points behind Fluminense.

Signed from Universidad the Chile after the Copa Libertadores in July, the 26-year-old Montillo has revitalized Cruzeiro's midfield and helped the team get back on track after poor performances before the World Cup.

He has also shown his ability to put the ball in the net, scoring three goals in the last three matches. Montillo said it was easy for him to adapt to Brazilian football because it is more attack-minded than in Argentina or Chile.

''In Argentina, it is much more tactical,'' Montillo said. ''Here it is attack against attack. The game is more vertical ... more dynamic.''

D'Alessandro, another former River Plate star, has led Internacional in the title chase with performances similar to the ones that helped the team win the Copa Libertadores in August.

The skillful playmaker set up two goals in Internacional's thrilling 3-2 victory against former leader Corinthians on Sunday at Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre. The result moved Internacional to fourth in the standings, seven points off the lead with a game in hand.

The three players have been touted by the Brazilian media as the competition's best players, and they are in the running for the most valuable player award.

But there are other Argentines also doing well in the Brazilian league, including Montillo's Cruzeiro teammate, Ernesto Farias, and Botafogo striker German Herrera.

The league also has other international players succeeding, like Uruguay striker Sebastian ''El Loco'' Abreu with Botafogo and Chile playmaker Jorge Valdivia with Palmeiras.

Some have struggled, however, including Matias Defederico, who was signed by Corinthians from Huracan last year after being touted as the ''new Messi.'' He has played in very few matches this year, often even failing to make Corinthians' bench.

One of the few Argentine players to have widespread success in Brazil in recent history was Carlos Tevez, who now plays for Manchester City in England. Tevez helped Corinthians win the 2005 Brazilian league title.