Heroic Martinez Saves Argentina in Dramatic Copa America Victory

Argentina triumphed over Colombia 1-0 in a dramatic Copa America final, securing their record 16th title despite a second-half injury to Lionel Messi.

Messi exited the game in the 64th minute after appearing to injure his leg without contact. The emotional captain was seen sobbing on the bench.

Lautaro Martinez emerged as Argentina’s hero, scoring the winning goal in the 112th minute after a precise pass from Giovani Lo Celso. This capped off a remarkable comeback for Argentina, who started the match slow and fell behind Colombia’s aggressive play.

The victory marks Argentina’s third consecutive major title, adding to their 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup wins. This feat mirrors Spain’s dominance between the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup. Argentina also ended Colombia’s impressive 28-game unbeaten streak.

The match was overshadowed by a chaotic start due to crowd control issues outside the stadium. The initial kick-off was delayed by over an hour as fans breached security measures.

Angel Di Maria, playing in his final Copa America appearance, announced his retirement from international football after the win. An emotional Di Maria spoke about a dream he had the night before, propelling him towards this glorious exit.

Messi, potentially making his last Copa America appearance at 37 years old, finished the tournament with one goal. Despite a first-half ankle issue, he continued playing until his second-half injury forced him off the field.

The highly anticipated match was further disrupted by a lengthy halftime break due to the wet playing surface – a consequence of the halftime performance by Shakira. The slick conditions contributed to several players losing their footing throughout the second half.

Colombia’s James Rodriguez received the best player award for the tournament.