Argentina clinch record-breaking 16th Copa America title with extra-time mastery over Colombia

Defending champions Argentina secured a historic 16th Copa America title by narrowly defeating Colombia 1-0, courtesy of an extra-time goal from substitute Lautaro Martinez at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Sunday.

The victory was marred by pre-match chaos but culminated in a euphoric celebration for the South American giants, marking a fitting farewell for several of their iconic players.

The match faced an unusual delay as thousands of ticketless fans attempted to storm the stadium, leading to over an hour’s postponement. Videos circulating on social media depicted tumultuous scenes, with security forces scuffling with fans who tried to breach the gates. The chaos extended to the families of some players, who found themselves unable to enter the venue. This incident is just one in a series of organizational issues that have plagued the tournament, including clashes between Uruguay’s players and Colombian fans, and an assistant referee being hospitalized during a group stage match.

The match itself was a tightly contested affair throughout the regular 90 minutes. Colombia started aggressively, pressing high and creating early chances. Jhon Cordoba hit the post in the seventh minute, and subsequent long-range efforts from Jefferson Lerma and Richard Rios were saved by Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

A major scare for Argentina came in the 36th minute when Lionel Messi appeared to injure his ankle following a collision with Santiago Arias. Although Messi continued after receiving treatment, he was visibly hampered for the rest of the half. Colombia maintained their offensive pressure in the second half, with near-miss attempts from Arias and Davinson Sanchez.

Argentina faced a significant setback in the 66th minute when Messi, unable to continue due to his ankle injury, was substituted. Despite this, Argentina managed to absorb Colombia’s pressure and even had a goal disallowed for offside. The match remained deadlocked, pushing the contest into extra time.

The defending champions came alive in extra time, testing Colombia’s goalkeeper Camilo Vargas with a shot from Nico Gonzalez before Lautaro Martinez finally broke the deadlock. In the 112th minute, Martinez, the tournament’s leading scorer, expertly lifted a through ball from Giovani Lo Celso over the advancing Vargas, igniting wild celebrations among Argentine fans.

Argentina’s victory not only added to their illustrious trophy cabinet but also provided a perfect sendoff for several of their stalwarts. Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, likely played his last international tournament, while Angel di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi are also set to retire from international football. Di Maria, who jointly lifted the trophy with Messi and Otamendi, expressed his overwhelming emotions, saying, “I dreamed that I would arrive at the final, win it, and retire in this way.”

Colombia, who saw their record 28-match unbeaten streak end, put up a valiant fight. Defender Davinson Sanchez expressed the team’s sense of injustice, stating, “It hurts when you compete to win and we felt we deserved more.” In a silver lining for Colombia, captain James Rodriguez was named player of the tournament, breaking Messi’s previous record with six assists.

Argentina’s triumph adds to their recent successes, including their 2022 World Cup and 2021 Copa America victories. This win places them ahead of Uruguay in the all-time Copa America standings, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in South American football. The Hard Rock Stadium, which will host matches during the 2026 World Cup, witnessed a historic night that will be remembered for both the on-field heroics and the off-field controversies.