MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — This one was for Lionel Messi, who sat from the Argentine bench with free-flowing tears following a right ankle injury that swelled after his exit in the 64th minute.
This was for Angel Di Maria, the big-game goal scorer playing in his final match with Argentina. He took the captain band from Messi until his exit, where he hugged Messi on the bench to cap his international career.
And this one is for Argentina, the 2024 Copa America champions, after a 1-0 win over Colombia in a final that was eventful to say the least.
Lautaro Martinez, the club’s leading scorer this Copa America, scored another in the 112th minute of extra time to help Argentina make history.
“We thought Lautaro would find a chance and blast it toward the net,” Argentine national coach Lionel Scaloni said of Martinez, a late substitute who scored five goals for the club during Copa America.
Argentina won Copa America 2021. They won the Qatar World Cup in 2022. And this Copa America title, the 16th all time to lead all other countries, is the third major international crown they earned in a three-year span.
Argentina is one of the greatest dynasties in soccer history, and they completed their Copa America run without their best player – even after the match was delayed at least an hour and 20 minutes due to unruly fans without tickets breaching security gates two hours before the game.
Messi tried to run with a head of steam in the 64th minute before he fell to the pitch, and immediately signaled for trainers.
Messi’s right cleat was removed. The captain band was also taken off his left arm. And he slowly limped to the Argentine bench before he burst into tears after his exit.
Messi’s right foot was visibly swollen, as captured by the FOX broadcast after he removed his bandage and ice.
“Leo is the greatest player in history. He never wants to leave the pitch,” Scaloni said. “He has a swollen ankle and wants to keep playing. His teammates see that. He wants to play because he’s not egotistic or selfish. He wants to play because he doesn’t want to leave his teammates on the pitch when he’s in the condition.”
Messi sustained the right ankle injury during the first half. He tried to chase down and make a kick before the ball went out of bounds. But when Messi planted his right foot, it bent in an awkward position as he made a kick with his left foot.
But you couldn’t notice Messi’s pain when it was time to celebrate.
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions led by Messi, won its its second straight Copa America title.
Colombia was unable to extend its 28-game unbeaten streak. They’ve lost their last two matches against Argentina.
“Today we played the best team in the world that’s marking an era. I think we measured up. Even if we’re sad, I want to congratulate our players,” Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from Sunday night’s match in Miami:
Argentina won a record 16th Copa America title by beating Colombia, 1-0. Argentina’s latest title comes on the back of their triumphs at the 2022 World Cup and 2021 Copa America.
Moments after Lautaro Martinez gave Argentina a 1-0 lead in the second half of extra time, emotions ran high as both teams engaged in a little extra-curricular shenanigans.
Hugs all along the Argentine bench. Lautaro Martinez, the club’s leading scorer this Copa America, has pulled through again with another goal.
Martinez scored during the second part of extra time, and gives Argentina a 1-0 lead.
If the score stands, this game will end and not go to a penalty shootout.
Argentina’s Angel Di Maria made a nice pass into the goal area, but he could not connect with the sliding Lautaro Martinez in front of the net.
After a scoreless first 15 minutes of extra time, we’re heading to 15 more minutes of it before a penalty shootout.
Check out this image of Messi’s right ankle. Woah.
After two scoreless halves, the Copa America final is heading to extra time. The clubs will play two 15-minute periods with hopes for a score. If the game remains tied after extra time, it will be decided by penalties.
A nice sequence from Argentina, including this header from Nicolás González just needed a finish. Play continues.
Nicolás Tagliafico is caught offside on this near-goal attempt from Argentina.
Here’s the sad scene of Messi, crying on the sidelines after his exit.
Messi took a fall and immediately called for help from trainers. It appeared Messi was trying to run as fast as he could, but he just tripped over himself.
The captain band is off, his right cleat is removed, and he’s slowly walking off the pitch, emotionally during the Copa America final in the 65th minute.
Messi is covering his face, while crying on the sidelines.
Ángel Di María, playing in his final match for Argentina, nearly had another big-time goal in a major game. But to no avail.
Colombia had a chance to begin the second half, but was unable to convert.
Messi, who injured his right ankle, has re-entered the match as the second half begins.
Messi appears fine, delivering a stellar corner kick. But a header by Nicolás Tagliafico was high over the net just before halftime.
It appears Lionel Messi has sustained a right ankle injury during the first half of the Copa America final.
Messi tried to chase and hit a ball before it went out of bounds. He planted his right foot, which bent in an awkward position before getting the kick away. Messi grimaced in pain and rolled over several times toward the field to be evaluated by trainers.
Messi eventually stood up to walk off on his own power, but not without a visible limp. He eventually walked back onto the pitch, and stayed in the game.
The injury happened at the 36th minute of the first half, during a scoreless match.
Colombia’s Jefferson Lerma found some space and let one go toward the net. It was just outside the left post, and the outstretched hands of Argentine goalie Dibu Martinez.
Lionel Messi had an opening and he fired away, but his kick was deflected by Colombian defender Davinson Sánchez just before the 20th minute.
This shot by Colombia’s Jhon Córdoba nearly resulted in an early lead. So close.
Before his final game with Argentina, Ángel Di María’s daughters presented the game ball to him before the match:
Well, the stadium is packed and the music has filled the delay. Now, players are being introduced to the crowd.
During pregame warmups, Lionel Messi made this free kick.
The situation with fans attempting to enter Hard Rock Stadium forced the match to be delayed a half hour.
Kickoff now is slated for 9:15 p.m. ET.
Around 8:11 p.m., police officers backed up and the gates open, allowing fans – with and without tickets scanned – to enter the stadium for the Copa America final.
Fans without tickets for Sunday’s Copa America final climbed fences and ran past security more than an hour before the Argentina-Colombia match at Hard Rock Stadium.
At least seven people were seen by USA TODAY Sports receiving treatment by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue near ramps entering the stadium. The people appeared to be in distress with flushed faces and were given bottles of water while sitting on the ground and along a low wall.
Pres. Joe Biden will address the nation shortly before the Copa America final, forcing the broadcast to FS1 to begin the match at 8 p.m.
The game will continue on FOX after Biden’s speech, FOX Sports announced.
Spain won Euro 2024 with a 2-1 victory over England earlier Sunday, and could play the Copa America 2024 winner in the summer of 2025. A date or location is not yet determined.
The last Finalissima, played between Copa and Euro champions, was in 2022 when Argentina beat Italy.
The Argentina and Colombia match will be broadcast on FOX in English, Univision in Spanish.
HOW TO WATCH: See the full slate of Copa America games with a fuboTV subscription
A live stream can be found on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app in English, and on TUDN in Spanish.
Yes, Messi is playing. He is expected to start in tonight’s final, his ninth for the Argentine national team.
Messi and Argentina could put the final touch on one of the greatest dynasties soccer has ever seen.
Another Copa America title tonight would be Argentina’s fourth major international championship in a three-year span.
Argentina won Copa America 2021. It beat the Euro 2021 champions, Italy, in the 2022 Finalissima two summers ago. Argentina won the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Colombia was unable to compete in the Qatar World Cup, so this Copa America has been a significant experience for the national team and the country.
Colombia hopes to win its second Copa America title (2001), and will play in its third Copa America final (1975, 2001).
Argentina 2, Colombia 1: James Rodriguez might manufacture a set piece to get on the board, but Argentina will rely on goals from Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria to win this title like they did their others, behind their elder statesman. Sorry, to my Colombian friends. But this Argentina dynasty isn’t coming to an end tonight. − Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter.
Argentina has +110 odds to win during the 90-minute match, while a draw is +190, and a Colombia win is +320, according to BETMGM. To lift the trophy, Argentina has -190 odds, while Colombia has +138.
Colombia has not lost in its last 28 matches. Its last loss was a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in an Olympic qualifying match on Feb. 1, 2022.
Argentina has lost just three of its last 63 matches. Their last three losses: to Brazil in the Copa America 2019 semifinal; to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup opener; and to Uruguay in Olympic qualifying last November.
Messi, the 37-year-old Inter Miami star in Major League Soccer, could possibly play his last match in a major tournament for Argentina during the Copa America final. Although Messi has left the door open on playing in World Cup 2026, pending his health and desire to keep playing, this match could be his last in a major tournament if he changes his mind.
Tonight’s match will be the final one in an Argentine jersey for Angel Di Maria, the big-game scorer who has helped Messi lift the international monkey off his back during the club’s recent run of championships.
Messi, 37, has left the door open about playing in the 2026 World Cup. Here’s what he’s said earlier this year about when he could potentially retire.
It’s surreal to imagine how Messi posed with 17-year-old Spain phenom Lamine Yamal for these photos when Yamal was just a baby. Here’s the story behind the viral photos of Messi and Yamal.
Luis Suarez, the Inter Miami star and Uruguay’s leading scorer, came to his country’s rescue with a late goal in the final minutes of stoppage time to force a tie and penalty shootout. Suarez also kicked the game-winning penalty kick to help Uruguay beat Canada 2-2 (4-3 on penalties) in the Copa America third-place match.
Canada finished Copa America 2024 in fourth place, but with an outstanding showing ahead of World Cup 2026.
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