The Pumas had not beaten the All Blacks in 29 previous Tests – losing 28 games and drawing once – but that dramatically changed in their first international since last year's Rugby World Cup as Nicolas Sanchez produced a masterclass and scored every point for his team.
Argentina held a 16-3 half-time lead and never looked back in the Tri-Nations showdown, despite a New Zealand rally at Bankwest Stadium, as the All Blacks were condemned to back-to-back Test defeats for the first time since August 2011.
The All Blacks were desperate for a response after last week's 24-22 loss to trans-Tasman rival Australia in the final Bledisloe Cup encounter, having already claimed that trophy again.
But Ian Foster did not get the reaction he wanted as Argentina stunned a near full-strength New Zealand on Australian soil.
Argentina and New Zealand traded penalty goals before the Pumas took control – star Sanchez collecting the rebound after his chipped pass bounced horribly for Beauden Barrett and crossing in the 19th minute.
Pumas five-eighth Sanchez had two tries and as many assists in his previous five Tests against New Zealand heading into the match, scoring 50 points.
With the All Blacks rattled, Sanchez drilled two more penalty goals before half-time as Argentina moved clear.
Argentina extended its lead thanks to Sanchez's fourth three-pointer of the game, but New Zealand threatened a comeback when Sam Came crashed over to reduce the deficit to 19-10 in the 53rd minute.
New Zealand huffed and puffed, and while Caleb Clarke muscled his way over at the death, Sanchez's fifth and sixth penalty goals had already put a historic result beyond doubt.
