MIAMI GARDENS — After unruly fans and trespassers delayed the start of the game by almost 90 minutes, Argentina endured and defeated Colombia 1-0 in the second overtime period at Hard Rock Stadium just after midnight Monday to win Copa America in a match that saw Lionel Messi exit in tears with an injury.
Messi, the iconic Inter Miami star, was sidelined in a match that, according to ESPN, could be his final one in international play.
“Leo and every other player, to us, will always mean a lot,” Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said. “They changed everything for us.”
After a chaotic pregame that saw scenes such as people without tickets climbing over fencing and others crawling through air ducts to gain illegal entry into the event, the game, scheduled for an 8 p.m. start, was delayed before kicking off at 9:22.
“There was serious concern of fans being crushed in an attempt to enter,” Hard Rock Stadium representatives said in an official statement.
Two of CONMEBOL’s best faced off for the coveted title, and Argentina ultimately triumphed when, in the 112th minute — midway through the second overtime period — Lautaro Martinez, who substituted for Julian Alvarez in the extra time, ended up one-on-one with Colombia keeper Emiliano Martinez and found the back of the net for the game’s lone goal.
Argentina closed out extra time, and the win, to the sound of adoration for Argentinian fans.
“This team continuously surprises everyone,” Scaloni said. “We deserved to win… We are really happy to bring joy to the people. That is why they play.”
Both teams came out physically aggressive and focused on creating chances from counterattacks. Colombia was the leader offensively, with eight shots total and four on goal to Argentina’s three and one despite possession being nearly equal.
The referees were lenient on challenges as a whole in the first half. Only one yellow card was handed out to Colombia, and just seven free kicks total were awarded despite multiple players hitting the ground. Argentina and Colombia both had dangerous free kick chances in front of the net, which missed by decent margins.
“I think we played a very good first half, we had a great game plan,” Colombian manager Nestor Lorenzo said. “Sometimes, you wanted to keep the momentum and the intensity and the referee would not allow for that. But that is for you to discuss.”
As the whistle blew to end the first half, the two teams trotted back to the locker rooms even at 0-0.
Both teams continued to create dangerous chances on offense to open the second half. Each side got off a combined five shots in the first fifteen minutes of play after the intermission. Argentina had the most dangerous chance, as Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas made a narrow save on a left-footed shot from Argentinian winger Angel Di Maria in the 58th minute.
Argentina took a huge blow in the 64th minute when Messi collapsed on the pitch and immediately reached for his leg. That, in combination with a blow to the leg in the first half, forced the Argentinian great out of the game. He was replaced by forward Nicolas Gonzalez.
Despite the loss of Messi, Argentina nearly struck first earlier on. A goal from Nicolas Tagliafico was ultimately called offsides to keep the match scoreless.
Both teams held off flurries of scoring chances to force extra time.
“We lacked continuity in the last part of the match, and we paid for that,” Lorenzo said.
As the Copa America comes to an end, Argentina, Colombia and Hard Rock Stadium, which is set to be a host stadium for the 2026 World Cup, look ahead to the next major international competition on U.S. soil.
