Argentina hosted Colombia at El Monumental for Matchday 16 of the 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers in what proved to be a thrilling showdown. In a moment of individual brilliance, Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a stunning solo effort that silenced the home crowd.
With Lionel Messi back in the starting XI, Argentina controlled possession, while Colombia sat deep and looked to break through its pacey front line. Flanked by Diaz on the left and Jaminton Campaz on the right, Los Cafeteros always felt one counter could tilt the match.
The goal stemmed from a turnover by Rodrigo De Paul, sparking a quick Colombian counterattack. Kevin Castaño fed Diaz on the wing, and the Liverpool star did the rest—cutting inside, dancing past four Argentine defenders, and slotting it past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to give Colombia the lead in the 24th minute.
Manager Nestor Lorenzo’s attack had labored in the previous qualifier against Peru—Diaz missed that match due to yellow-card suspension—but the forward’s return instantly transformed Colombia’s offense and underlined his status as Lorenzo’s most influential player.
Diaz’s strike also carried historical weight: it was Colombia’s first goal at El Monumental since the famous 5-0 victory in 1993, adding another memorable chapter to the nation’s lore on Argentine soil.
Scoring drought in Argentina ends
Argentina has historically held the upper hand over Colombia, and the head-to-head record clearly reflects that dominance. However, Diaz’s goal broke a 28-year scoring drought for Colombia in away qualifiers against La Albiceleste.
The last Colombian player to score against Argentina on the road in World Cup qualifying was Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama, who found the net in a 1-1 draw in November 1997 during the road to the 1998 World Cup in France. Since then, Colombia had visited Argentina six times in qualifiers—suffering five defeats and recording one scoreless draw between 2001 and 2022.
