Argentina, the defending champions, secured their 16th Copa America title by defeating Colombia 1-0 at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Sunday. The winning goal came in extra time, with substitute Lautaro Martinez scoring from a precise through ball by Giovani Lo Celso. Her calmly lifted his shot over Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas in the 112th minute, sparking jubilant celebrations among Argentina fans.
This decisive goal marked Martinez’s fifth of the tournament, setting his status as the top scorer and earning him the prestigious Copa America 2024 Golden Boot award. The match, originally scheduled to start at a certain time, faced a delay of 1 hour and 20 minutes due to crowd disturbances.
Match Started by Colombia
Colombia began the match with intense pressure, with John Cordoba hitting the post in the seventh minute. Jefferson Lerma and Richard Rios also tested Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with long-range efforts. In the 36th minute, Lionel Messi appeared to injure his ankle due to a collision with Santiago Arias. Although he returned to play after receiving treatment, Messi was visibly affected for the remainder of the half.
Colombia maintained their offensive momentum in the second half, with Arias and Davinson coming close to scoring. Argentine defended bravely but suffered a setback in the 66th minute when Messi was forced off the field due to his ankle injury. Despite this, Argentina grew into the match and had a goal disallowed for offside, while Colombia held firm as the game headed into extra time. The defending champions continued to press in extra time, testing Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas with chances from Nico Gonzalez before Lautaro Martinez eventually broke the deadlock.
Argentina’s Historic Win
After a goalless 90 minutes and a demanding extra-time period, Lionel Messi once again proved crucial, showcasing his consistency throughout the tournament. Messi appeared to suffer a non-contact injury while running in the 64th minute, visibly upset as he sat on the bench with his hands covering his face. Lautaro Martinez, after scoring the decisive goal, rushed to embrace his captain on the sidelines, marking the celebration of Argentina’s record 16th Copa America victory.
This victory also secured Argentina’s third consecutive major title, after the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, similar to Spain’s feat of winning the 2008 and 2012 European Championships alongside the 2010 World Cup. Argentina also ended Colombia’s 28-match unbeaten streak, which has persisted since a defeat to the Albiceleste in February 2022.
Martinez’s Crucial Goal Secures Victory for Argentina
The winner of the Golden Boot with six goals, Martinez’s late goal proved to be his most crucial. Despite the fatigue and heightened emotions, he maneuvered past the defense with determination and calmly placed his shot. Such decisive moments slipped away from Argentina in past tournaments, but not this time.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi could only watch from the sidelines. Forced off early due to an injury with a swollen ankle, Messi initially displayed sadness, but his emotions turned to joy as Martinez scored. On this memorable night, Messi’s teammates rose to the occasion. Argentina has reclaimed the title once again, solidifying its enduring legacy. While the Messi era may be nearing its conclusion, Argentina’s dominance in football remains unshaken.
