Ireland's dream of a semi-final berth at the Rugby World Cup will have to wait at least four more years as the Pumas produced an excellent attacking display to win Sunday's last-eight contest 43-20 and book a showdown with either Australia or Scotland.
The Pumas headed into the quarter-final tie as slight underdogs against the Six Nations champions, but they ran in four tries to book a spot in the last four for the second time in their history.
Argentina were quick out of the blocks and were 17-0 up inside 15 minutes with Matias Moroni and Juan Imhoff both touching down.
Ireland - devoid of the leadership of talismanic captain Paul O'Connell and fly-half Jonathan Sexton due to injury - were guilty of several sloppy errors.
Joe Schmidt's men threatened a fight-back, as replacement Luke Fitzgerald scored in the 27th minute then set up Jordi Murphy for his first Ireland try shortly after the restart.
It proved in vain, though, as first Joaquin Tuculet finished a fine Argentina move before Imhoff raced clear for his second.
Argentina will now face the winner of Australia and Scotland in the last quarter-final tie, while Ireland once again failed to reach the last four despite playing in every World Cup to date.
It took Argentina just three minutes to score the opening try. Tuculet brilliantly collected Juan Martin Hernandez's high kick and the ball was worked right where Moroni ran over in the corner.
The Pumas were celebrating again in the 10th minute. More excellent midfield play opened up gaps in the Irish defence and Santiago Cordero's perfectly weighted kick from the right was pounced upon by Imhoff.
Ireland's misery worsened when Tommy Bowe was taken from the pitch on the stretcher and a Nicolas Sanchez penalty stretched Argentina's lead.
Ramiro Herrera gifted Ireland a lifeline when a needless late tackle on Keith Earls saw the prop sent to the sin bin.
Ian Madigan and Sanchez then traded penalties before Ireland's numerical advantage paid dividends with their first try.
Robbie Henshaw did brilliantly to offload to Fitzgerald who skipped past the tackle and ran in under the posts.
Ireland reduced the arrears again four minutes after the break as more excellent footwork from Fitzgerald split the Argentina defence and the supporting Murphy finished the job.
Madigan twice brought the score to within three but opposite number Sanchez matched him with the boot on each occasion.
Ireland continued to huff and putt but the errors that blighted their first half began to creep back into their game.
And the telling blow was delivered in the 68th minute. Argentina showed great hands to work the ball left and Tuculet demonstrated great strength to ground the ball and just stay in touch.
There was still time for more, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe bursting through the defence and slipping in Imhoff to swallow dive under the posts.
Key Opta Stats:
-Argentina have now beaten Ireland in three of the four World Cup meetings between the sides.
-The Pumas' 23 point win was their biggest ever against Ireland in Test rugby.
-The 43 points scored by Argentina was the joint most Ireland have ever conceded in a Rugby World Cup game (v New Zealand, 1995 & v France, 2003).
-Juan Imhoff scored two tries to become the first Argentina player to score five tries in a single Rugby World Cup.