Copa America: Argentina defeat Colombia to clinch record 16th title

Lautaro Martinez scored an extra-time winner as Argentina claimed a 1-0 victory against Colombia to win a record 16th Copa America title at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.

However, the game was marred by an 80-minute delay due to trouble outside the stadium in Miami.
Martinez struck in the second half of extra time from Giovani Lo Celso’s through ball, securing the victory. Captain Lionel Messi was in tears when he had to be replaced midway through the second half after injuring himself while chasing the ball but celebrated his country’s third successive major tournament victory at the final whistle.

The match, marked by security and crowd issues that forced an 82-minute delay, was ultimately decided by Martinez’s quality finish—his fifth goal of the tournament. The win marks Argentina’s third consecutive major tournament title following their 2021 Copa America victory and their triumph in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

There were tears before the celebrations as Lionel Messi left the field injured in the 66th minute, watching the rest of the game in distress from the bench. Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria received an emotional farewell in his final game for the national team.

For Colombia, whose only title came in the 2001 Copa America, it was a disappointing night with little going right for Nestor Lorenzo’s team. Chaos erupted outside the stadium, with organizers blaming supporters for trying to enter without tickets, while fans criticised the inefficient entry system. Some fans required medical attention for heat exhaustion, but after the gates were thrown open with no checks, the situation was largely resolved, and the game finally proceeded.

Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba hit the post with a speculative shot in the seventh minute, but neither side found their rhythm early on. Di Maria found Messi in the 20th minute with a low ball into the box, but Messi’s left-foot shot was saved by Colombia keeper Camilo Vargas. Colombia appeared more lively in the opening period, coming close in the 33rd minute when Jefferson Lerma’s long-range drive forced Emiliano Martinez into a diving save.

The kick-off was delayed due to chaos outside Hard Rock Stadium, with organizers attributing the delay to ticketless fans trying to enter the ground. This left many fans waiting for hours in the Miami heat until the gates were eventually opened.