Keylor Navas Remains Undefeated Against Cavani After Eighth Career Meeting

Keylor Navas and Edinson Cavani shared the spotlight in Rosario this weekend as Newell’s defeated Boca Juniors 2-0 in the Argentine league. While the match itself was significant, it also added another chapter to an unlikely yet consistent head-to-head: Navas remains undefeated in eight matches against Cavani across different competitions.

Their rivalry dates back to the 2014 World Cup when Costa Rica stunned Uruguay 3-1, with Cavani scoring his team’s lone goal. Since then, they’ve faced off in international friendlies and multiple Champions League ties — notably when Navas was with Real Madrid and Cavani at Paris Saint-Germain.

In total, the Costa Rican goalkeeper has won six of their eight duels, with the remaining two ending in draws. Cavani has scored three times in these meetings but has never come out on the winning side.

Sunday’s match at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa added another layer to the narrative. Cavani missed a crucial penalty, hitting the post, and Navas later denied Boca’s Battaglia on the rebound. The pair embraced before kickoff — a gesture of mutual respect built over years of competing at the highest level, including a shared season at PSG in 2019/20.

With Cavani struggling to find the net and Navas making an immediate impact in Argentine football, this one-sided record stands out. When it comes to facing Cavani, Navas simply doesn’t lose.