Colombia defeated Argentina 2-1 inBarranquilla for Matchday 8 of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Yerson Mosquera and James Rodriguez were the scorers for the hosts, while Nico Gonzalez scored the only goal for the visitors. Los Cafeteros didn’t beat Argentina in Qualifiers since 2007 with an identical score.
In the match held in Bogotá on November 20, Colombia triumphed with goals from Ruben Darío Bustos and Dayro Moreno, while Lionel Messi netted the only goal for La Albiceleste. The game marked a significant victory for the Colombian side.
At the time, Colombia was under the leadership of head coach Luis Fernando Pinto, while Alfio ‘El Coco’ Basile was at the helm for Argentina. The match was for the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers, in which Colombia failed to earn a spot for the tournament played in South Africa.
This time, Colombia dominated the match from the beginning, scoring the first goal at the 24th minute, after a great assist by Rodriguez from a corner kick. However, Rodriguez’s mistake also led to Argentina equalizing at the start of the second half, before the midfielder found the net from the penalty spot.
: Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina reacts during the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match (Andres Rot/Getty Images)
While Colombia had beaten Argentina in Bogotá, a victory over La Albicelest in Barranquilla wasn’t easy. At this stadium, Colombia and Argentina had met seven times, with the home team winning the first two games, and Argentina going 5 games unbeaten with a balance of 3 wins and 2 draws.
When was Colombia’s last victory over Argentina in Barranquilla?
Colombia’s last win against Argentina in Barranquilla was in 1993, during the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. So, Los Cafeteros had to wait 31 years to watch a triumph against the World Cup champions in the city.
On August 15 of that year, Colombia hosted La Albiceleste at the Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez and won 2-1 with goals from Adolfo José Valencia and Iván René Valenciano. Argentina’s goal was scored by Ramón Ismael Medina Bello.
