1-0: Boca is champion in an ending as dramatic as it is unusual
The Argentine championship lacks talent, sensuality. The nerves, the tensions, the muscle, the sloppiness, the unusual organization prevail. However, football in the country where Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi were born is capable of captivating in an unimaginable way with its passion and unexpected stories. For example, with a closure of Annual Tournament overwhelmed by the drama, defined so to the limit that the team that lost the title in the last breath for a few moments celebrated believing it was champion…
The real champion was Mouth by Leandro Paredes, for a goal that Enner Valencia scored in the 96th minute and that helped him achieve a 1-0 victory against Defense and Justice that allowed him to be crowned. The one who mistakenly believed himself champion and drew a blooper to collect was Angel Di María’s Rosario Central, who beat Estudiantes de Río Cuarto 2-0 but needed the xeneizes not to win.
In the end, everything was defined by that cross from Lautaro Blanco that seemed easy for the confident Matías Borgogno to pick up, but this time the goalkeeper went too far and was unable to catch the ball. There it was left for Valencia to hit him coldly and establish the 1-0 that is worth a star.
Then, in that Bombonera that did not beat and that was paralyzed because Boca could not find the way, a colossal party was unleashed, enhanced by the shock that represented the agonizing goal. If Boca did not crown it would be a blow. But Boca won and became champion again after almost three and a half years. It is Juan Román Riquelme’s first title as president. It is the first title for Leandro Paredes, the great captain, since his return home. It is the first title for the youth players who are starters and who are exciting: Tomás Aranda, Leonel Flores, Jagger Herrera, Lautaro Di Lollo… It is an immense boost for the coach, for Vasco Arruabarrena. It is an act of justice.
Boca was the best team throughout the year. By variants, by search, by football, by presence in the decisive matches. Against Defensa y Justicia, a rival with a healthy game and without fear, it cost him. He didn’t find the goal quickly and his development was weighing on him.
Arruabarrena took out Sebastián Villa, one of the most unbalanced. Then, with a quarter of an hour left, Paredes came out, half tired, half sore. And there was no lucidity. If Borgogno lowered that center, nothing would be of any use now. But he didn’t do it. And Boca got the prize it deserved.
In Rosario there was confusion. Central had won its match, but needed Boca not to win. Suddenly, in the Gigante de Arroyito, there was a scream, there was contagion, there were fans who invaded the field and shouted at the TV camera “we are two-time champions”, there were players from the Rosario team who hugged each other and who began to celebrate… Until they were notified of the error. And the euphoria there transformed into deep disenchantment.
Argentinos Juniors failed at home
In the definition of the title, there was another team with the chance to be champion: Argentinos Juniors. Of course, they faltered on their home court against Huracán and fell 0-2. There was no room for confusion or error.
In this way, Boca established itself as champion of the Annual Tournament with 63 points recovered throughout the 32 days played in 2026, including the Apertura and Clausura. Rosario Central finished with 62 and Argentinos with 60.
The xeneizes, with the 75th star in their history, have the best momentum to go for an impressive harvest of titles before the end of the year. They will seek to win in the Clausura, where they will have to play in the playoffs. And they will also play the finals of the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa Argentina. Leandro Paredes warned: “We want to win everything.”
