WATCH: James Rodriguez strikes as Colombia trounce Lionel Messi-less world champions Argentina in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Colombia avenged their loss in the Copa America final over defending World Cup champions Argentina with striker James Rodríguez scoring from the penalty spot and adding an assist in a 2-1 win on Tuesday night in a South American 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Yerson Mosquera opened the scoring in the 25th minute but Argentina equalized in the 48th when Nico Gonzalez capitalized on a defensive blunder from the Colombians.
Former Real Madrid star Rodríguez’s 60th-minute penalty, which was awarded after a video review, secured the win at the Metropolitano Stadium. Argentina missed the services of their talisman Lionel Messi at the Barranquilla due to injury in the first clash between the two former World Cup winners since the Copa America final.
WATCH James Rodriguez score from a penalty against Argentina HERE…
James Rodriguez PENALTY GOAL vs Argentina #Colombia #WorldCupQualifiers #Argentina pic.twitter.com/dg9ZU9Br5y
— Soccer CLICKS (@SoccersCLICKS) September 10, 2024
“It is a great win against an Argentina team that has won it all,” Rodríguez said. “The weather was tough, it was so hot, but we had an excellent match. It is a fair win.”
World Cup champion Argentina lifted the Copa America trophy after a 1-0 overtime victory over Colombia in July this year. Colombia, which hadn’t triumphed over Argentina since 2019, is still unbeaten in South American World Cup qualifying.
Also on Tuesday, Bolivia upset Chile 2-1 at Santiago; Ecuador beat Peru 1-0, and Venezuela drew 0-0 with Uruguay.
Paraguay stun Brazil 1-0
It was a day of upsets in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers as Paraguay earned a historic 1-0 win over former World Cup champions Brazil in Asuncion. Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez scored the solitary goal of the match in the 20th minutes of the game which the hosts started on the backfoot.
Meanwhile, Argentina leads the round-robin competition with 18 points after eight matches, two points clear of Colombia. Uruguay is in third position with 15 points, followed by Ecuador with 14.
The top six teams in South American qualifying will get automatic spots at the 2026 World Cup. Colombia once again had the 33-year-old Rodríguez to thank after he gave a perfect cross for Mosquera to nod in and opening the scoring. That equalized Carlos Valderrama’s record of 11 assists in South American World Cup qualifying.
A mistake by Rodríguez allowed Argentina to equalize, with Nico González stealing the ball from him and shooting past goalkeeper Camilo Vargas. But Rodríguez made amends when he beat Dibu Martínez, a prolific penalty stopper, and equalized Falcao García’s mark of 13 goals in World Cup qualifying.
Argentina’s strikers Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez failed to offer as much danger as they do when veteran Messi is there to create opportunities for them. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the heat had an impact on the match.
“The heat is the same for both, but it is evident that there were not good conditions for us to see a spectacle,” the coach said.
(with AP inputs)