Argentina clinched their record 16th Copa América title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Colombia in a dramatic final at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The match, which kicked off after a significant delay of 82 minutes due to crowd disturbances and ticketless fans attempting to breach security barriers, saw Lautaro Martínez emerge as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 112th minute of extra time.The victory was bittersweet for Argentina, as their captain and talisman Lionel Messi was forced to leave the field due to an ankle injury in the 66th minute. Messi, visibly distraught on the sidelines, was seen sobbing, potentially marking his last major international tournament appearance.This triumph marks Argentina’s third consecutive major international title, completing their ‘Triple Corona’ following victories in the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup. The achievement cements Argentina’s status as the most successful team in Copa América history, surpassing Uruguay’s previous record of 15 titles.The match also marked the end of an era for another Argentine football icon, Ángel Di María, who confirmed this was his last game for the national team. Di María, who received a standing ovation when substituted, expressed his gratitude, saying, ‘I dreamed it, I dreamed that I would arrive to the final and win it and retire in this way’.Despite the on-field triumph, the event was marred by organizational issues. The kickoff was delayed until 3:22 am local time due to thousands of fans without tickets attempting to enter the stadium, leading to several incidents and injuries. These security concerns have raised questions about the organization of future tournaments, particularly with the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.The victory sparked jubilant celebrations both in Miami and back in Argentina, with fans taking to the streets despite cold winter temperatures in Buenos Aires. Argentine President Javier Milei congratulated the team on social media, declaring, ‘Forza Argentina, we are still champions’.
Key points
- Argentina won their record 16th Copa América title, defeating Colombia 1-0 in extra time.
- The match was significantly delayed due to security issues and crowd disturbances.
- Lionel Messi left the game injured, potentially marking his last major international tournament.
- Ángel Di María confirmed his retirement from the national team after the victory.
- The win completes Argentina’s ‘Triple Corona’ of major international titles.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported delay time, with sources mentioning 80 minutes, 82 minutes, and 90 minutes.
The exact timing of Messi’s substitution also varies slightly between reports, with some stating the 65th minute and others the 66th minute.
