Argentina–Mexico football rivalry

Sports rivalry

Argentina–Mexico football rivalry

A moment of the match played
at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Location| The Americas
Teams|  Argentina
Mexico
First meeting| Argentina 6–3 Mexico
(19 July 1930, FIFA World Cup)[1]
Latest meeting| Argentina 2–0 Mexico
(26 November 2022, 2022 FIFA World Cup)
Statistics
Meetings total| 32
Most wins| Argentina (16)
Top scorer| Lionel Messi (4)
All-time series| Argentina: 16
Mexico: 4
Draws: 12
Largest victory| Argentina 4–0 Mexico
(Friendly, 10 Sep 2019)

The Argentina–Mexico football rivalry is a sports rivalry that exists between the national football teams of the two countries.[2][3][4][5] Although the rivalry is not a very competitive one with Argentina holding 16 victories, 12 draws and only 4 losses in 32 meetings, the game draws a lot of attention from the media in Mexico. In fact, this rivalry is more keenly felt by Mexican supporters than Argentines, with the latter viewing Brazil, England, Uruguay and Germany as bigger rivals. A number of Argentines do not consider Mexico as rivals. Argentina has not lost to Mexico since 2004, with the last 4 meetings being shutout victories. Mexico has not scored against Argentina since 2015 in a friendly.[6]

## History[edit]

Although the first official match between both nations came in the 1930 FIFA World Cup where Argentina beat Mexico 6–3 on group stage, the rivalry emerged during the late twentieth century, especially after the 1993 Copa América Final, where Argentina beat Mexico 2–1.[7][8][9] That was the first time a non-CONMEBOL nation played in a Copa América final, and the first final played between both sides.[10]

Managed by Alfio Basile, Argentina won the Copa América for the fourteenth time, defending their title won two years before.[11][12] Argentina would not win another Copa America until 2021.

Overall, Argentina hold the edge in the rivalry in official matches, with sixteen victories, four by Mexico, and twelve draws.[13][14]

Beyond the rivalry between both teams, many Argentine coaches have served as managers of Mexican teams. While César Menotti is widely recognised for his work with the Mexico national team,[4] Nevertheless, other Argentine that managed Mexico in subsecquent years (such as Ricardo LaVolpe or more recently Gerardo Martino) were heavily criticized by the local media despite some good results leading the team. Former Mexican player and manager Hugo Sánchez has always been reluctant with the idea of having foreign managers.[4]

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar, there was animosity between fans of both sides, especially from the Mexican side. Prior to the match between both teams, some Mexican and Argentine fans had a fight in Doha.[15] Both supporters fought again inside Lusail Stadium after Argentina's victory.[16] Previously, Mexican fans had been singing a song that included political and social references to the Malvinas War singing "in the Falklands, English language is spoken", the word Falklands intentionally accentuated, considering that Malvinas is the neutral answer in Spanish, that provoqued Argentine fans' wrath towards them.[17]

## List of matches[edit]

The chart includes the complete list of matches played between both teams:[18][19][20][21]

#  | Date  | City  | Venue  | Winner  | Score  | Competition  | Goals (Arg)  | Goals (Mex)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 19 Jul 1930 | Montevideo | Centenario | Argentina |

6–3

| 1930 World Cup | Stábile (3), Zumelzú (2), Varallo | Rosas (2), Gayón
2 | 13 Mar 1956 | Mexico City | Olímpico Universitario | (Draw) |

0–0

| 1956 Panamerican |  |
3 | 10 Mar 1960 | San José | Estadio Nacional | Argentina |

3–2

| 1960 Panamerican | Belén (2), Nardiello | H. Hernández, C. González
4 | 17 Mar 1960 | San José | Argentina |

2–0

| Jiménez, Nardiello |
5 | 28 Mar 1962 | Buenos Aires |  | Argentina |

1–0

| Friendly |
6 | 22 Aug 1967 | Mexico City |  | Mexico |

2–1

| Friendly | ? | Fragoso (2)
7 | 6 Feb 1973 | Mexico City |  | Mexico |

2–0

| Friendly |  | E. Borja, F. Bustos
8 | 31 Aug 1975 | Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | (Draw) |

1–1

| Mexico City Cup | Coscia | F. Vargas
9 | 18 Sep 1984 | Monterrey | Estadio Universitario | (Draw) |

1–1

| Friendly | Burruchaga | Negrete
10 | 25 Oct 1984 | Buenos Aires | José Amalfitani | (Draw) [n 1] |

1–1

| Friendly | Gareca | Flores
11 | 14 Nov 1985 | Los Angeles | Memorial Coliseum | (Draw) |

1–1

| Friendly | Maradona |
12 | 17 Nov 1985 | Puebla | Estadio Cuauhtémoc | (Draw) |

1–1

| Friendly | Ruggeri | Aguirre
13 | 17 Jan 1990 | Los Angeles | Memorial Coliseum | Mexico |

2–0

| Friendly |  | C. Muñoz, Zague
14 | 13 Mar 1991 | Buenos Aires | José Amalfitani | (Draw) |

0–0

| Friendly |  |
15 | 20 Jun 1993 | Guayaquil | Estadio Monumental | (Draw) |

0–0

| 1993 Copa América | Ruggeri | Patiño
16 | 4 Jul 1993 | Guayaquil | Argentina |

2–1

| Batistuta (2) | Galindo
17 | 10 Feb 1999 | Los Angeles | Memorial Coliseum | Argentina |

1–0

| Friendly | Sorín |
18 | 9 Jun 1999 | Chicago | Soldier Field | (Draw) |

2–2

| Reebok Cup | J. Cruz, G. López | L. Hernández, P. Chávez
19 | 20 Dec 2000 | Los Angeles | Memorial Coliseum | Argentina |

2–0

| Reebok Cup | Solari, Galletti |
20 | 4 Feb 2003 | Los Angeles | Memorial Coliseum | Argentina |

1–0

| Friendly | G.J. Rodríguez |
21 | 10 Jul 2004 | Chiclayo | Elías Aguirre | Mexico |

1–0

| 2004 Copa América |  | R. Morales
22 | 9 Mar 2005 | Los Angeles | Memorial Coliseum | (Draw) |

1–1

| Friendly | R. Zárate | Fuentes
23 | 26 May 2005 | Hanover | Niedersachsenstadion | (Draw) [n 2] |

1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)

| 2005 Confed Cup | Figueroa | Salcido
24 | 24 Jun 2006 | Leipzig | Zentralstadion | Argentina |

2–1

| 2006 World Cup | Crespo, M. Rodríguez | Márquez
25 | 11 Jul 2007 | Puerto Ordaz | Cachamay | Argentina |

3–0

| 2007 Copa América | Heinze, Messi, Riquelme |
26 | 4 Jun 2008 | San Diego | Qualcomm Stadium | Argentina |

4–1

| Friendly | Burdisso, Messi, M. Rodríguez, Agüero | Sinha
27 | 27 Jun 2010 | Johannesburg | Soccer City | Argentina |

3–1

| 2010 World Cup | Tevez (2), Higuaín | J. Hernández
28 | 8 Sep 2015 | Arlington | AT&T Stadium | (Draw) |

2–2

| Friendly | Agüero, Messi | J. Hernández, Herrera
29 | 16 Nov 2018 | Córdoba | Mario A. Kempes | Argentina |

2–0

| Friendly | Funes Mori, Brizuela (o.g.) |
30 | 20 Nov 2018 | Mendoza | Malvinas Argentinas | Argentina |

2–0

| Friendly | Icardi, Dybala |
31 | 10 Sep 2019 | San Antonio | Alamodome | Argentina |

4–0

| Friendly | L. Martínez (3), Paredes
32 | 26 Nov 2022 | Lusail | Lusail Stadium | Argentina |

2–0

| 2022 World Cup | Messi, E. Fernández |

Notes

1. ^ Suspended at 85' due to pitch invasion.
2. ^ Argentina won on penalty shoot-out.

## Statistics[edit]

(Only official matches are included):

Competition  | Played  | Arg. won  | Draw  | Mex. won

|
|
|
|

FIFA World Cup | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0
FIFA Confederations Cup | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0
Copa América | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1
Pan American Games | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0
Total | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1

## Club competition[edit]

Players of Estudiantes (LP) raising the Copa Interamericana won over Toluca in 1968

At club level, Argentine and Mexican teams met for the first time at Copa Interamericana, a defunct competition contested by Conmebol and Concacaf club champions. In the first edition of the tournament (1968), Estudiantes de La Plata beat Toluca after a two-legged and a playoff series, winning the first trophy for South America.

The first Mexican win over an Argentine side in Copa Interamericana came in 1977 when Club América defeated Boca Juniors. After both teams won one match each, a playoff was held in Mexico City, where América won 2–1 to achieve their first title.[22][23][24]

The rivalry between both nations at club level increased during the late 1990s, when Mexican clubs were invited to participate in Copa Libertadores. After Mexican representatives were eliminated on round of 16 in 1998, in the 2000 edition América lost to Boca Juniors in semifinals (5–4 on aggregate). The progress of Mexican sides in the competition was clearly evident in 2001 when Cruz Azul became the first Mexican team to play a final, being defeated by Boca Juniors on penalties after winning one game each (as visitor teams).[25] Previously, Cruz Azul had eliminated Cerro Porteño (round of 16) and two Argentine teams, River Plate and Rosario Central (in quarter and semifinals respectively).[26]

The most controversial game between Mexican and Argentine teams in club competitions occurred in 2005, when Guadalajara faced Boca Juniors in quarter finals. In the first leg, Guadalajara beat Boca Juniors 4–0,[27] being considered one of the greatest achievements of Mexican teams over Argentine rivals.[28] In the second leg at La Bombonera, Chivas player Adolfo Bautista mock Boca Juniors supporters which caused Martín Palermo beat him. As a result, both were sent off while Boca Juniors coach, Jorge Benítez, spit at Bautista's face. The final 0–0 score eliminated Boca Juniors from the competition and the match passed into history as an embarrassing scandal.[29] Benítez's misconduct caused Boca Juniors fired him after the incident.[30]

Tigres UANL became the second Mexican team to play a Copa Libertadores final in 2015, but they lost to River Plate (0–3 on aggregate).[31][32] After the 2017 edition, Mexican teams would decline to participate in Copa Libertadores due to scheduling problems.[33]

## See also[edit]

* Argentina–Mexico relations

## References[edit]

1. ^ Diego Mancera (26 Nov 2022). "El Argentina – México en datos: un duelo decisivo, una rivalidad histórica". elpais.com.
2. ^ "Argentina and Mexico fans' rivalry rocks Qatar". reuters.com.
3. ^ "Mexico vs. Argentina: three days before the game, the war began, but with a fight between fans". marca.com.
4. ^ a b c "El partido de México y Argentina revive una vieja rivalidad deportiva". nytimes.com.
5. ^ ""Al grito de Guerra", la pambolera rivalidad de México y Argentina llega a ViX+". informador.com.mx.
6. ^ "Argentina national football team: record v Mexico". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
7. ^ "Mexico's great love-hate relationship with Argentina". theguardian.com.
8. ^ "El origen de la rivalidad entre México y Argentina". record.com.mx.
9. ^ Copa América 1993 Final on the RSSSF
10. ^ México alimenta la Copa América by Diego Mancera on El País, 15 June 2019
11. ^ Reviví la consagración en la Copa América 1993, el último título de la Selección mayor on Diario Veloz, 4 Jul 2015
12. ^ Hace 23 años, la selección argentina ganaba la Copa América por última vez by Gustavo Lenti on Telam, 4 July 2016
13. ^ "México vs Argentina, rivalidad extra cancha". eluniversal.com.mx.
14. ^ "Argentina national football team: record v Mexico". 11v11.com.
15. ^ BATALLA CAMPAL ENTRE HINCHAS DE ARGENTINA Y MÉXICO EN LAS CALLES DE DOHA El Gráfico, 24 Nov 2022
16. ^ Incidentes entre hinchas de la Selección Argentina y México en el Mundial de Qatar 2022, TyC, 26 Nov 2022
17. ^ La repudiable canción mexicana contra Argentina en el Mundial de Qatar 2022 on TyC, 26 Nov 2022
18. ^ ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM ARCHIVE by Osvaldo Gorgazzi at the RSSSF
19. ^ Historial de la Selección Argentina vs. México: cuántas veces se enfrentaron on TyC Sports, 26 Nov 2022
20. ^ Historial de enfrentamientos entre la Selección Argentina y la Selección Azteca on AFA, 17 Jan 2019
21. ^ México - Argentina, una historia longeva by Luis Aguirre, 8 Sep 2015
22. ^ Copa Intermericana 1978 overview on Historia de Boca
23. ^ América campeón de la Interamericana on Club América, 14 Apr 2018
24. ^ La copa olvidada by Juan Manuel Trenado on La Nación, 20 Feb 2019
25. ^ A 21 años de la Copa Libertadores 2001 ganada por Boca on TyC, 28 Jun 2002
26. ^ Copa Libertadores de América 2001 by Frank Ballesteros and Juan Pablo Andrés for the RSSSF
27. ^ Copa Libertadores de América 2005 by Juan P. Andrés on the RSSSF
28. ^ Partidos épicos: Chivas goleó 4-0 a Boca Juniors en Cuartos de Final de la Copa Libertadores 2005 by Eduardo Ceccato García, 18 nov 2020
29. ^ A 15 años de Boca-Chivas y el escupitajo del Chino Benítez al Bofo Bautista by Franco Macchi on ESPN, 14 Jun 2020
30. ^ Boca determinó el despido de Benítez on La Nueva, 16 Jun 2005
31. ^ "River Plate win third Copa Libertadores title with victory over Tigres". Guardian. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
32. ^ "River Plate 3 Tigres 0". Goal.com. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
33. ^ Concacaf, en contra de los mexicanos que quieran jugar la Libertadores on Télam, 6 Feb 2021

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