July 15, (THEWILL) – Argentina claimed their 16th Copa America title with a 1-0 victory over Colombia in Miami. The match, delayed by 82 minutes due to crowd issues outside the Hard Rock Stadium, saw Lautaro Martinez score the winning goal in extra time.
The game remained goalless throughout regular time, with both teams creating chances. Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba hit the post early on, while Argentina’s Julian Alvarez missed opportunities. The match took a turn when Lionel Messi, playing in his fifth Copa America final at 37, left the field in tears due to an ankle injury in the 66th minute.
Despite Messi’s absence, Argentina persevered. In the 112th minute, substitute Lautaro Martinez, assisted by Giovani Lo Celso, slotted the ball past Colombia’s goalkeeper Camilo Vargas. This goal not only won Argentina the match but also earned Martinez the Golden Boot award for his fifth goal of the tournament.
For Colombia, this loss was particularly painful as they were seeking only their second Copa America title in history. Their strong defence, which had kept clean sheets in the quarterfinals and semifinals, finally cracked in extra time against the reigning world champions.
The victory marks Argentina’s second straight Copa America title, building on their success in the previous tournament. However, questions remain about Messi’s international future following his injury in this final.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
