The final is regarded as the best Intercontinental Cup ever played, due to the technical virtues of both teams.[2] Despite Juventus arriving in Tokyo as the favorites to win the match, Argentinos Juniors' performance surprised everyone due to its style of play,[3] efficacy and the outstanding performance of 20-year old forward Claudio Borghi, the most notable player of his team.[2] Thirty years after the final, Borghi himself admitted that Argentinos Juniors lost the final because its players relayed excessively in their conditions.[4]
We had a very important rival, in times where there were not so many videos to analyze the rival as today. We stayed in the same hotel than Juventus and therefore we met their players all the time. It was a very nice experience
— Claudio Borghi, remembering the final during a radio interview in 2015, ESPN [4]
^"We are the champions". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 1 December 2005. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2009.