Despite Lionel Messi’s absence due to injury in the 66th minute, Argentina defeated Colombia with a late goal from Lautaro Martinez, clinching their 16th Copa America title.

“I dreamed of this. I dreamed of retiring like this. I am truly grateful to this talented generation for helping me achieve what every player aspires to in their career. What could be better than ending like this? It’s not easy to reach the final and win,” said Angel Di Maria. This was his 145th appearance for Argentina and also his last match in national team colors.

The match between Argentina and Colombia was a tense and dramatic showdown where both teams were deeply familiar with each other. They played tightly, creating numerous dangerous situations, but their forwards’ lack of finishing prevented any goals in the regulation 90 minutes.

For Argentina, the image of captain Lionel Messi in tears as he left the field due to injury in the second half added anxiety for fans. Nevertheless, substitute Lautaro Martinez entered the game in the 97th minute and decisively scored the winning goal in extra time, securing a 1-0 victory for the white and blue-striped team.

Argentina topped Group A with victories over Canada, Chile, and Peru. They advanced past Ecuador in the quarterfinals via penalties and defeated Canada again in the semifinals to reach their fourth consecutive Copa America final after five tournament participations.

This triumph allowed Argentina to surpass Uruguay in Copa America titles, marking their 16th victory in the tournament’s history. It also marked the third major tournament victory in a row for the team led by Lionel Scaloni, following Copa America 2021, World Cup 2022, and Copa America 2024.

For Colombia, their journey began with wins against Paraguay and Costa Rica in Group D before drawing with Brazil to secure their place as group winners. Under coach Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia defeated Panama 5-0 in the quarterfinals, achieving the largest margin of victory in this year’s tournament, and subsequently defeated Uruguay in the semifinals to reach their third final in history. They also set a record of 28 undefeated matches before facing Argentina.

However, their unbeaten streak ended in Miami as Argentina successfully defended the title they won four years ago in Brazil. This defeat means Colombia has only won one Copa America title in their history, which they secured at home in 2001. Colombia won the Fair Play award, and James Rodriguez received the Best Player award for his six assists and outstanding performances that helped the yellow-shirted team reach the final. Lautaro Martinez won the Copa America 2024 Golden Boot with five goals scored.

The past few weeks have undoubtedly been an unforgettable period for football fans worldwide and those in attendance in Miami. The Copa America final was delayed for over an hour. Outside the stadium, thousands of ticketless fans attempted to illegally enter, and Miami police had to work hard to ensure security for those present.