MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi lifted the trophy, his arms pumping with joy, a stark contrast to the tears of frustration he shed earlier. Argentina celebrated their second consecutive Copa América championship and third straight major tournament win, beating Colombia 1-0 with Lautaro Martínez’s 112th-minute goal.
Messi, who was forced to watch much of the second half and extra time due to a leg injury, still played a significant role in Argentina’s triumph. “Leo is the greatest player in history,” Lionel Scaloni, the coach of Argentina, declared. “He never wants to leave the pitch. He has a swollen ankle but still wants to keep playing. He’s not egotistical or selfish; he wants to support his teammates.”
Messi’s injury occurred in the 64th minute while running and falling without contact. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner covered his face with his hands as he sat on the bench, sobbing. After Martínez scored the decisive goal, he ran to the bench to hug his 37-year-old captain.
After the final whistle, Messi, who appeared to be limping, called his senior teammates Nicolás Otamendi and Ángel Di María to lift the trophy with him. Di María, retiring from the national team, was emotional as he hugged Messi while white confetti cascaded around them. “It was written like this,” Di María said. “I told the guys last night that I dreamt it. I’m grateful to this generation who helped me win what I always wanted. The conclusion was perfect, beyond my expectations.
The match, delayed by 1 hour and 22 minutes due to crowd trouble at Hard Rock Stadium, marked Argentina’s third consecutive major title following their 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup victories. It also ended Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten streak dating back to a February 2022 World Cup qualifier against Argentina, also decided by a Martínez goal.
Martínez, who entered the game in the 97th minute, scored from Giovani Lo Celso’s perfect pass after Leandro Paredes won the ball with a sliding tackle. Martínez sprinted past defender Carlos Cuesta and struck a right-foot shot past Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas for his 29th international goal and tournament-high fifth.
Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo noted the physical toll on his players, with many suffering severe cramping in the upper 80s temperatures and 73% humidity. “Playing a final is not easy,” Lorenzo said. “They played six matches in 21 days and were feeling the effects.”
Messi, making his 39th and possibly last Copa América appearance, had one goal in the tournament. He was briefly injured in the first half but returned to the field. In the second half, after another injury, he removed his boot in frustration and watched the remainder of the game from the sidelines. He celebrated Martínez’s goal with raised arms.
The match’s start was delayed due to crowd control issues, including fans breaching security gates at the stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup. Hard Rock Stadium later issued a statement expressing regret for the situation and emphasizing their commitment to safety. “We understand there are disappointed ticket holders who were not able to enter the stadium after the perimeter was closed,” the statement said, promising to address individual concerns in partnership with CONMEBOL.
