Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP) – Lionel Messi shed his hands. The cup bounced up and down in his hands. The two-time Copa America champion and World Cup winner’s tears of frustration an hour ago turned into laughter and hugs.
Messi was forced to watch most of the second half and extra time with a leg injury. Still, Argentina won the Copa America for the second time on Sunday night, beating Colombia 1-0. Lautaro Martinez’s 112th minute goal.
“Leo is the greatest player in history,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter. “He doesn’t want to leave the field. His ankle is swollen and he wants to keep playing. I choose those players. It’s not because he’s arrogant or selfish that he wants to play. He doesn’t want to leave his teammates, so he wants to keep playing. … He was born to be on the field.
Messi seems to be injured when he does not make contact Running and falling in the 64th minute. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner covered his face with his hands. He sat on the bench and cried.
Martinez ran to that seat to hug the 37-year-old captain after the goal that gave Argentina their 16th Copa title.
Messi, who appeared to be reeling after the final whistle sounded well past midnight, called on his senior teammates, 36-year-old Nicolas Otamendi and Angel Di Maria, who is retiring from the national team, to lift the trophy. As white confetti is revealed, the three embrace.
“But the reality is hard to describe,” Di Maria said. “It’s written like that. I told the boys that I saw it last night at dinner. That’s why I said it was the last Copa America. I dreamed we got to the final and we won it so I could go out this way.
“I will always be grateful to this generation that has given me everything, helped me achieve what I always wanted and left today in this way,” said Di Maria. “Couldn’t be better.”
The game, which started 1 hour and 22 minutes late due to crowd trouble at the Hard Rock Stadium, saw Argentina win its third title after the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup and meet Spain in the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. 2010 World Cup.
Argentina ended Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten run in February 2022 World Cup qualifiers when they lost 1-0 to the Albiceleste.
Martínez came on in the 97th minute on Sunday and headed home Giovanni Lo Celso’s perfect free-kick before Leandro Paredes curled the ball away from the Colombian’s cross. Paredes exchanged the ball with Martínez and played the ball with Lo Celso, who once attempted the ball, Martínez went past the defender Carlos Costa.
Martinez ran to the ball and took a touch to the penalty area and fired a right-footed shot past the sliding goalkeeper Camilo Vargas for his 29th international goal and 5th.
According to Colombian coach Nestor Lorenzo, many Colombian players ended up with severe cramps. The temperature was in the 80’s and the humidity was around 73%.
“Making a final is not easy. It’s not easy for anyone,” Lorenzo said through an interpreter. They played six games in 21 days and began to feel the effects. While they all felt cramps, some remained in both legs. They all left the field feeling tired and exhausted.
In his 39th and possibly final Copa America game, Messi scored one goal in the tournament. He went down in the 36th minute His left ankle is held by Santiago Arias. But He returned to the field after three minutes.
As he fell on the field in the second half, Messi looked to the bench as if he knew the game was over. As he walked away, he took off his right boot and kicked it in frustration, and his ankle appeared to be swollen. Standing with his right leg on the empty field bench and his arms raised, Martinez scored a goal while his teammates ran onto the field.
The start has been delayed from 8 am EDT to 9:22 pm because Public control issues Outside the stadium, including fans breaching security gates at the 2026 World Cup venue.
Uruguayan players days later Involved in a fight Following the semifinal against Columbia fans in Charlotte, North Carolina, fans were seen climbing fences and railings to enter the championship game, and officials were unable to track who had bought tickets and who had not.
Hard Rock Stadium released a statement after the game, saying the venue is “proud to safely and successfully host world-class events throughout the year.”
The statement said, “We understand that there are disappointed ticket holders who have been unable to enter the stadium since the closure of the region and we will work together with CONMEBOL to resolve those individual issues.” At the end of the day, nothing is more important than the health and safety of all guests and staff, and that will always remain our top priority.
Colombia were more aggressive and forced goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to make four saves in the first half, but Argentina began to threaten more in the second half.
Nicolas Tagliafico should have scored in the 75th minute but was ruled out. Nicolas Gonzalez replaces Messi. He was stopped by Vargas in the 95th minute.
Several players lost their footing in the second half on Sunday. The grass was littered with sprinklers following Colombian pop star Shakira’s halftime performance, prompting an extended halftime break.
Due to performance reasons, half time has been increased from the usual 15 minutes to around 25 minutes.
Lorenzo what Free time is important Coaches were penalized for returning to the field early in the tournament before the final game. On Sunday, he said the continuation of half-time rules would be better to “protect the fitness and fitness of the players”.
Colombia’s James Rodriguez was selected as the best player of the tournament with six assists.
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