Boca Juniors snatch Argentine league title as Rosario Central celebrations collapse

Boca Juniors were crowned 2026 Argentine league champions after Enner Valencia scored a late winner against Defensa y Justicia at La Bombonera on Saturday.

The 1-0 victory, secured in the final round of the season, gave Boca Juniors top spot in the annual standings, with Valencia’s decisive goal coming in the 50th minute of the second half.

The title is awarded to the team that collects the most points across Argentina’s two league tournaments: the Apertura, played during the first half of the year, and the Clausura, held in the second half.

The Clausura is still being contested, with the knockout stages currently under way to determine its winner. Boca Juniors’ success in the annual table therefore came despite the second competition not yet having reached its conclusion.

The final-day drama appeared to be heading in a different direction before Valencia’s intervention. Rosario Central were celebrating what they believed would be a championship triumph after taking a 2-0 lead against Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto.

Their supporters even entered the pitch to celebrate alongside the players, convinced the result had secured the title.

That assumption changed when Boca Juniors scored in added time. Valencia’s goal not only completed a late victory over Defensa y Justicia but also moved Boca above Rosario Central in the annual standings.

The result ended Boca Juniors’ three-year wait for a trophy and turned Rosario Central’s celebrations into a painful disappointment.

The outcome also revived memories of the controversy surrounding last year’s award, when Rosario Central were unexpectedly declared champions.