Boca Juniors historic European tour in 1925 marked a turning point in Argentine football long before the world conquering Boca sides of Toto Lorenzo or Carlos Bianchi.

A Team Eager to Become Legendary

At the time, football supremacy in South America was hotly contested in the Río de la Plata region. Uruguay had just won Olympic gold in 1924, and Argentina its fierce rival in regional tournaments wanted to showcase its talent internationally. Yet, for one reason or another, those plans were always shelved.

Then Boca stepped forward. “We’ll go,” they said. With the full backing of Argentina football leadership, Boca set off on a journey that would not only make them the first Argentine club to cross the Atlantic but also ignite an explosion of Xeneize popularity across the country and take their blue and gold colors to the world.

The team departed on February 4 aboard the Formose, with a brief stop in Montevideo, arriving in Vigo, Spain, on February 27. They returned home five months later, on July 12, aboard the Mosella.

Players from Boca… and Beyond

The squad included 17 players twelve from Boca and five on loan from other clubs along with two club officials, a fan who served as kit man, masseur, and general helper, and journalist Natalio Botana, sent by Crítica newspaper.

During the voyage, the players trained on the ship’s deck to stay in shape. Even so, setbacks occurred: Boca defensive midfielder Mario Busso got injured on board and was replaced for much of the tour by Luis Vaccaro, on loan from Argentinos Juniors.

Boca Lands in Europe

Despite the exhausting journey, Boca debuted with a 3-1 win over Celta de Vigo on March 5. Luis Cerroti had the honor of scoring both the first and second goals by an Argentine team on European soil at the 2nd and 57th minutes.

In total, Boca played 19 matches across Spain, Germany, and France, winning 15, drawing 1, and losing just 3. Antonio Cerroti and Segundo Médici were the only players to appear in all 19 games. Manuel Seoane was the tour’s top scorer with 12 goals, followed by Cerroti with 10.

The First Chapter Against Bayern

That lone draw came against Bayern Munich, at the start of Boca stint in Germany. The match was played on May 9, 1925, and ended 1-1. Seoane opened the scoring for Boca, and Hutstteiner equalized for the Germans before halftime.

It was the first chapter in a rivalry that would peak in the 2001 Intercontinental Cup. The teams had previously met in a 1967 friendly at Camp Nou, where Boca won 1-0. Now, in Miami, they’ll meet again for the fourth time in history.

A Historic Transatlantic Classic

Today, more than 100 years after that initial clash, Bavarians and Xeneizes commemorate a transatlantic rivalry between European and South American giants. The question now is: Who will emerge victorious in this epic new chapter?