Lionel Messi left the field in tears, a scene that left the entire stadium in stunned silence. Despite the score still being 0-0, it felt as though Argentina had already faced defeat. But Lautaro Martinez had other ideas. With four goals to his name before Monday’s Copa America final against Colombia, Martinez was the tournament’s top scorer. He was ready for his chance as Argentina started the semifinal and final with Messi, Ángel Di María, and Julián Álvarez.
Martinez made the most of his opportunity. With no goals scored during regulation time, the match went into extra time. In the second half of extra time, Martinez scored an unbelievable goal, leading Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Colombia and securing the Copa America title. This victory marked Argentina’s record 16th Copa America championship, surpassing Uruguay’s previous record. Messi’s face lit up with a thousand-watt smile at the end of the match.
Lamine Yamal had earlier expressed his wish to face his idol Messi in the Finalissima if Spain won the Euro Cup and Argentina clinched the Copa America. Late Sunday night (Indian Standard Time), Spain became Euro champions, and early Monday morning, Argentina defeated Colombia to win the Copa. Football fans worldwide, like young Spanish prodigy Yamal, eagerly anticipate the clash between the Euro and Copa champions.
The drama of the match began even before kickoff. A surge of fans attempting to enter without tickets at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium delayed the game by nearly an hour and a half. The match finally began around 6:50 AM IST. From the start, Colombia made it clear they would not concede easily, launching relentless attacks on the Argentine defense with blistering speed. Argentina initially struggled but gradually found their rhythm, increasing their possession and launching waves of attacks on the Colombian goal. Despite these efforts, neither team scored during regular time, and Argentina had a goal disallowed for offside. Messi’s departure in the 65th minute due to injury added to the tension as the match moved into extra time.
In the second half of extra time, Martinez capitalized on a pass from Giovani Lo Celso, charging into the Colombian box and unleashing a powerful shot to score the decisive goal. Martinez’s heroics not only secured the title for Argentina but also ensured a memorable victory that will be cherished by fans for years to come.
