Argentina–Mexico football rivalry
A moment of the match played
at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
LocationThe Americas
Teams Argentina
 Mexico
First meetingArgentina 6–3 Mexico
(19 July 1930, FIFA World Cup)[1]
Latest meetingArgentina 2–0 Mexico
(26 November 2022, 2022 FIFA World Cup)
Statistics
Meetings total32
Most winsArgentina (16)
Top scorerLionel Messi (4)
All-time seriesArgentina: 16
Mexico: 4
Draws: 12
Largest victoryArgentina 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

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 "Come to see! Come to see! In the Falklands, English language is spoken", with the word Falklands intentionally included, considering that the islands are named Malvinas in Spanish, regardless of any political position. This intentional aggression sparked outrage of the Argentine fans towards them.[17]

List of matches

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)
119 Jul 1930MontevideoCentenarioArgentina
6–3
1930 World CupStábile (3), Zumelzú (2), VaralloRosas (2), Gayón
213 Mar 1956Mexico CityOlímpico Universitario(Draw)
0–0
1956 Panamerican
310 Mar 1960San JoséEstadio NacionalArgentina
3–2
1960 PanamericanBelén (2), NardielloH. Hernández, C. González
417 Mar 1960San JoséArgentina
2–0
Jiménez, Nardiello
528 Mar 1962Buenos AiresArgentina
1–0
Friendly
622 Aug 1967Mexico CityMexico
2–1
Friendly ?Fragoso (2)
76 Feb 1973Mexico CityMexico
2–0
FriendlyE. Borja, F. Bustos
831 Aug 1975Mexico CityEstadio Azteca(Draw)
1–1
Mexico City CupCosciaF. Vargas
918 Sep 1984MonterreyEstadio Universitario(Draw)
1–1
FriendlyBurruchagaNegrete
1025 Oct 1984Buenos AiresJosé Amalfitani(Draw) [n 1]
1–1
FriendlyGarecaFlores
1114 Nov 1985Los AngelesMemorial Coliseum(Draw)
1–1
FriendlyMaradona
1217 Nov 1985PueblaEstadio Cuauhtémoc(Draw)
1–1
FriendlyRuggeriAguirre
1317 Jan 1990Los AngelesMemorial ColiseumMexico
2–0
FriendlyC. Muñoz, Zague
1413 Mar 1991Buenos AiresJosé Amalfitani(Draw)
0–0
Friendly
1520 Jun 1993GuayaquilEstadio Monumental(Draw)
0–0
1993 Copa AméricaRuggeriPatiño
164 Jul 1993GuayaquilArgentinaBatistuta (2)Galindo
1710 Feb 1999Los AngelesMemorial ColiseumArgentina
1–0
FriendlySorín
189 Jun 1999ChicagoSoldier Field(Draw)
2–2
Reebok CupJ. Cruz, G. LópezL. Hernández, P. Chávez
1920 Dec 2000Los AngelesMemorial ColiseumArgentina
2–0
Reebok CupSolari, Galletti
204 Feb 2003Los AngelesMemorial ColiseumArgentina
1–0
FriendlyG.J. Rodríguez
2110 Jul 2004ChiclayoElías AguirreMexico
1–0
2004 Copa AméricaR. Morales
229 Mar 2005Los AngelesMemorial Coliseum(Draw)
1–1
FriendlyR. ZárateFuentes
2326 May 2005HanoverNiedersachsenstadion(Draw) [n 2]
1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)
2005 Confed CupFigueroaSalcido
2424 Jun 2006LeipzigZentralstadionArgentina
2–1
2006 World CupCrespo, M. RodríguezMárquez
2511 Jul 2007Puerto OrdazCachamayArgentina
3–0
2007 Copa AméricaHeinze, Messi, Riquelme
264 Jun 2008San DiegoQualcomm StadiumArgentina
4–1
FriendlyBurdisso, Messi, M. Rodríguez, AgüeroSinha
2727 Jun 2010JohannesburgSoccer CityArgentina
3–1
2010 World CupTevez (2), HiguaínJ. Hernández
288 Sep 2015ArlingtonAT&T Stadium(Draw)
2–2
FriendlyAgüero, MessiJ. Hernández, Herrera
2916 Nov 2018CórdobaMario A. KempesArgentina
2–0
FriendlyFunes Mori, Brizuela (o.g.)
3020 Nov 2018MendozaMalvinas ArgentinasArgentina
2–0
FriendlyIcardi, Dybala
3110 Sep 2019San AntonioAlamodomeArgentina
4–0
FriendlyL. Martínez (3), Paredes
3226 Nov 2022LusailLusail StadiumArgentina
2–0
2022 World CupMessi, E. Fernández
Notes
  1. Suspended at 85' due to pitch invasion.
  2. Argentina won on penalty shoot-out.

Statistics

(Only official matches are included):

Competition Played Arg. won Draw Mex. won
FIFA World Cup4400
FIFA Confederations Cup1010
Copa América4211
Pan American Games3210
Total12831

Club competition

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

References

  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. 1 2 3 "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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