Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen, where Arias recently moved on loan from Atletico Madrid, confirmed the news on Sunday (AEST), adding that the 28-year-old right back had fractured his left fibula.

Arias slid into a challenge with Venezuela's Darwin Machis – who plays in LaLiga with Granada – in the eighth minute, putting the ball out for a corner, but was in immediate agony as his left ankle gave way under his own weight.

Machis, who walked away in horror after alerting officials to the extent of the injury, was initially shown a red card in the aftermath, but the referee overturned his decision after viewing the incident on the pitch-side monitor, admitting he'd misunderstood what had occurred.

Arias had only recently made the move to Leverkusen for a season-long loan after receiving reported interest from Premier League clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton and Newcastle United.

Colombia went on to win the match 3-0 in Barranquilla., with a goal from Duvan Zapata and a double from Luis Muriel all scored in the first half.

It was the opening matchday of the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022.