Argentina and Brazil are fierce soccer rivals, but that's not keeping Argentine players from thriving in Brazil. For example, Andres D'Alessandro, Dario Conca and Walter Montillo are making a splash in Brazil, putting their teams in contention for the title. All three are skillful playmakers.

Conca, a 27-year-old former River Plate midfielder, has been scoring and setting up crucial goals for league leader Fluminense. “Conca is the best player in his position in Brazil,” Fluminense defender Leandro Euzebio said. “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 soccer not to summon a player of his quality.”

Montillo, signed from Universidad the Chile after the Copa Libertadores in July, has revitalized Cruzeiro’s midfield. He said it was easy for him to adapt to Brazilian soccer because it is more attack-minded than in Argentina or Chile.

D’Alessandro, another former River Plate star, helped Internacional win the Copa Libertadores in August. He set up two goals in Internacional’s thrilling 3-2 victory against former leader Corinthians on Sunday to move Internacional to fourth in the standings.