Teófilo Gutiérrez played his last match for Junior on Monday 9 November 2026, scoring a goal that he celebrated in tears alongside the club’s fans. The Barranquilla forward, idolised in the La Chinita neighbourhood where he grew up, said goodbye to the club where he made his top-flight debut in Colombia.
A emotional farewell at the Romelio Martínez
The match against Cúcuta Deportivo, valid for matchday 18 of the 2026-II Liga BetPlay, was played at the Romelio Martínez stadium. Around 5,000 spectators attended to see Gutiérrez off. He arrived wearing Junior’s presentation kit and repeatedly kissed the club crest.
Before the game, a video published by the club on social media showed him laughing as he ate a wafer with the number 29 made from arequipe, a caramel-style spread, before going out to warm up. Although he was not in the starting line-up, he led his teammates out for the pre-match exercises.
The goal
Junior went into the break 1-0 ahead, thanks to a strike from Guillermo Paiva in the 35th minute. Gutiérrez came on for Francisco Fydriszewski at the start of the second half.
It took him only about five minutes after entering to find the net. He struck a right-footed cross-shot towards the north end of the stadium, finishing a one-two with Bryan Castrillón inside the opposition box. The goal was his 281st in a career that spans his entire professional life, according to the 365Scores platform. In celebration he pulled off his shirt, laid it on the grass and raised his arms towards the Junior terrace.
Final whistle and tribute
At the end of the match, referee Wilmar Roldán handed Gutiérrez the match ball from the final play and a golden whistle after an embrace between the two men. The forward received hugs from his teammates, then walked around the stadium to greet the supporters, bowing as a gesture of farewell after more than 100 appearances for the club.
A career in numbers
According to 365Scores, Gutiérrez’s career totals include 863 matches played, 716 starts, 281 goals, 75 assists and 33 red cards.
His honours include a World Cup with the Colombian national team in Brazil in 2014, five league titles in Colombia (four with Junior and one with Deportivo Cali), a Copa Colombia with Junior in 2017, and two Superligas with Junior in 2019 and 2020. Abroad, he won the Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa Sudamericana with River Plate, two Argentine league titles with River in 2013 and 2014, and the Argentine Supercup. He also lifted the Portuguese Supercup with Sporting Lisbon, the Copa México with Cruz Azul in 2013, the Turkish Cup with Trabzonspor in 2010 and the Turkish Supercup in 2011.
A farewell match in December
A separate farewell game has been scheduled for Saturday 19 December 2026 at the Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla. The event is officially titled ‘The Last Dance’.
Source: www.infobae.com
