* Copa America 2024 Final – Argentina vs Colombia
By Dwayne Ferreira
Argentina won a record-breaking 16th Copa America title after a dramatic final against Colombia in Miami, despite the absence of their star player, Lionel Messi. Messi was forced off with a foot injury in the second half, leaving him in tears on the substitutes’ bench. In his absence, Lautaro Martinez stepped up, scoring the only goal of the game in extra time to secure the victory. This win breaks Argentina’s tie with Uruguay for the most titles in the competition’s history.
The final at Hard Rock Stadium was marred by chaotic scenes outside the venue, where thousands of supporters were prevented from entering, causing a significant delay. Originally scheduled to kick off at 8 pm ET, the match started 82 minutes late, at 9:22 pm ET, due to these pre-game incidents. Despite the delay and the absence of their captain, Argentina managed to defend their crown, previously won four years ago in Brazil.
Colombia entered the final with an impressive record, having opened the tournament with wins over Paraguay and Costa Rica in Group D. They secured a draw with Brazil to progress as group winners. In the knockout stages, Nestor Lorenzo’s side defeated Panama 5-0 in the quarterfinals—the biggest margin of victory in the 2024 tournament—before overcoming Uruguay in the semifinals. This set up their third final appearance in history and extended their unbeaten streak to 28 matches, which was ultimately ended by Argentina in Miami.
Lautaro Martinez’s decisive goal in the 111th minute clinched the title for Argentina. The match was notable for Lionel Messi’s likely final international appearance, as the 37-year-old superstar left the field to a standing ovation after a collision with Santiago Arias left him visibly hampered and with a swollen right ankle. Despite the setback, Argentina’s victory marks their third major tournament win in a row under Lionel Scaloni, adding to their two Copa America titles and the World Cup win in Qatar in 2022.
