Copa America 2024 Final between Argentina and Columbia: In the final, Argentina defeated Columbia 1-0 to claim the Copa America 2024 championship. Lautaro Martinez scored the game-winning goal in the 112th minute of extra time.
With their 16th championship, Argentina is currently the most successful team in Copa America history.
The team captained by Lionel Messi successfully defended their Copa America championship after taking home the trophy in the 2021 tournament.
Argentina supporters at Hard Rock Stadium erupted into wild jubilation after Martinez, the tournament’s top scorer, grabbed onto a precise through ball from Giovani Lo Celso and lifted his shot over advancing Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas in the second half of extra time.
Following their victories at the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America, Argentina has now secured yet another major trophy. This provides eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi with the ideal send-off in what is probably his final international competition.
Colombia pressed high up the pitch to seem dangerous early in the game. Jhon Cordoba struck the bar in the seventh minute, and then Richard Rios and Jefferson Lerma attempted long-range shots that forced Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to make saves.
Messi was definitely hurt for the rest of the half after taking a hit to his ankle in the 36th minute during a clash with Santiago Arias. Messi was able to stand up again after receiving treatment.
Colombia started the second half with a lot of intensity once more, and thanks to Arias and Davinson Sanchez’s near-goals, they were causing Argentina problems.
Argentina handled the pressure admirably, but they were dealt a severe blow when Messi hobbled out in the 66th minute with an ankle injury.
Even though they kept becoming stronger and had a goal disallowed for offside, Colombia managed to hold on as the game proceeded into extra time.
In extra time, the reigning champs persisted in pressing forward, putting Vargas to the test with a Nico Gonzalez shot before Martinez ultimately made the breakthrough.
Colombia’s record 28-game winning streak came to an end against Argentina, whose most recent loss occurred in February 2022 against ‘La Albiceleste’.
Messi overtook Dani Alves as the player with the most trophies in football history with this 45th senior trophy, making him the most decorated player of all time.
Di Maria, 36, played for the La Albiceleste in 145 games, scoring 31 goals. The team finished second in the 2014 World Cup and won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Aside from that, he placed second in the 2015 and 2016 editions and won the Copa America in 2021.
