Argentina won their record 16th Copa America title in a thrilling match against Colombia on Monday, July 15, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. They won 1-0 in extra time thanks to a great goal from Lautaro Martinez.
Key Highlights:
- No Goals in Regular Time: Both teams played hard for 90 minutes and in stoppage time, but no one scored. The game went into extra time.
- Lautaro Martinez’s Goal: In the 112th minute, Martinez scored after a perfect pass from Giovani Lo Celso. He shot the ball past Colombia’s goalkeeper, Camilo Vargas, marking his 29th international goal and the most in the tournament.
- Messi’s Injury: Lionel Messi got hurt in the 64th minute and had to leave the game. He looked very upset and was seen crying near the bench. Despite this, the team was inspired to keep fighting.
- Delayed Start: The game started 1 hour and 20 minutes late because fans without tickets tried to rush into the stadium, causing chaos at the gates.
- Argentina’s Recent Wins: This win is Argentina’s third major title in recent years. They also won the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, joining Spain in winning back-to-back continental and World Cup titles.
- Colombia’s Unbeaten Streak Ended: Argentina’s victory ended Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten run, which had lasted since February 2022.
Other Moments:
- Messi’s Emotional Reaction: Messi was very emotional after his injury, but he was comforted by Martinez, who ran to hug him after scoring the winning goal.
- Ball Possession: In the first 35 minutes, Colombia had 57% of the ball possession, compared to Argentina’s 43%.
Again, Argentina showed their strength and skill, adding another important title to their history.
