Lionel Messi celebrated with joy as he held the trophy tightly in his hands, starkly contrasting to the frustration he felt just an hour earlier. Despite his leg injury forcing him to sit out much of the second half and extra time, Argentina secured their second consecutive Copa America title by defeating Colombia 1-0 on Lautaro Martínez’s goal in the 112th minute.
“Leo is the greatest player in history,” remarked Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. “He never wants to leave the pitch. He has a swollen ankle and wants to keep playing. I prefer those players. He wants to play not because he is egotistical or selfish.
He wants to keep playing because he doesn’t want to leave his teammates… He was born to be on the pitch.”
Messi appeared to injure himself without contact while running in the 64th minute, visibly upset as he sat on the bench. His teammate Martínez rushed to embrace him after scoring the crucial goal that secured Argentina’s record 16th Copa title.
Even after midnight, visibly limping, Messi called on his senior teammates like 36-year-old Nicolás Ottamendi and Ángel Di María, who announced his retirement from the national team, to join him in lifting the trophy. Amidst falling white confetti, the trio shared an emotional embrace.
“It’s difficult to put into words,” said Di María. “It was destiny. I told the guys at dinner last night that I dreamt about this. That’s why I said this would be my last Copa America. I dreamt we would reach the final and win it so I could end my national team career this way.”
“I’ll always be thankful to this generation who gave me everything, helped me achieve what I always wanted, and today, I am leaving like this,” Di Maria said. “It couldn’t be better.”
In a match that started 1 hour and 22 minutes late due to crowd trouble at Hard Rock Stadium, Argentina won its third consecutive major title following the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup, matching Spain’s feat of winning the 2008 and 2012 European Championships around the 2010 World Cup.
Argentina also ended Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten streak dating back to a 1-0 loss to Albiceleste in a February 2022 World Cup qualifier, also on a goal by Martínez.
Martínez came on in the 97th minute on Sunday and scored from Giovani Lo Celso’s precise pass after Leandro Paredes tackled a Colombian player near the center line.
Paredes passed to Martínez, who then found Lo Celso, and with a single touch, Lo Celso sent a pass through to Martínez as he sprinted past defender Carlos Cuesta.
Martínez took control of the ball, entered the penalty area with a touch, and fired a right-footed shot past the sliding goalkeeper Camilo Vargas for his 29th international goal, his fifth highest in the tournament.
Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo mentioned that many Colombian players suffered severe cramps. Temperatures were in the upper 80s with humidity at about 73%.
“It’s not easy to play in a final. It’s tough for everyone,” Lorenzo said through an interpreter. “They played six matches in 21 days and started feeling the effects. They all left the field with cramps, some in both legs. They all felt the fatigue and weariness.”
In his 39th and potentially final Copa America appearance, Messi scored one goal in the tournament. He was injured in the 36th minute when Santiago Arias caught his left ankle, but returned to the field three minutes later.
Messi glanced towards the sidelines immediately after falling on the field in the second half, seemingly aware his tournament was over. He removed his right boot as he walked off, slamming it in frustration as his ankle began to swell.
Standing by the bench with his bare right foot, he raised his arms as teammates rushed onto the field after Martínez scored.
The match was delayed from 8 p.m. EDT to 9:22 p.m. due to crowd control issues outside the stadium, including fans breaching security gates at a venue set for the 2026 World Cup.
Following a brawl involving Uruguay players and Colombia fans after their semifinal match in Charlotte, North Carolina, video footage showed fans climbing fences and railings to access the championship match, with officials unable to track who had tickets.
Hard Rock Stadium released a statement post-game, emphasizing their commitment to hosting events safely and successfully year-round.
“We recognize there are disappointed ticket holders unable to enter after the perimeter closed,” the statement read, “and we will collaborate with CONMEBOL to address these concerns. The health and safety of all guests and staff remains our top priority.”
Colombia took a more aggressive stance, forcing goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to make four saves in the first half, while Argentina began to pose more threats in the second.
Nicolás Tagliafico believed he scored in the 75th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Nicolás González, who replaced Messi, was thwarted by Vargas in the 95th minute.
In the second half of Sunday’s match, several players struggled with footing on the heavily watered grass following a halftime show by Colombian pop star Shakira, resulting in an extended halftime break.
The halftime break was extended from the usual 15 minutes to about 25 minutes due to the performance.
Lorenzo expressed concern about the extended halftime before the final match, referencing penalties issued to coaches for late returns to the field after the second half in earlier tournament games. He emphasized the importance of consistent halftime rules to protect the players’ fitness and physical condition.
James Rodríguez of Colombia was named the tournament’s top player, credited with six assists.
