JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images
Argentina is once again a Copa América champion after beating Colombia 1-0 on Monday.
The win gives Argentina its 16th Copa América final victory, breaking a tie with Uruguay for the most all-time Copa América titles.
The first 90 minutes plus four minutes of stoppage time wasn’t enough to settle an exciting Copa América final as the two teams went into extra time scoreless. The next 30 minutes saw two exhausted teams battle for the lead, and Argentina finally took it in the 111th minute after a goal from Lautaro Martínez, who notched his fifth of the tournament.
Martínez’s goal proved to be decisive as Colombia couldn’t respond in the final minutes.
It was a bittersweet victory for Argentina, as it had to play most of the match without Lionel Messi, who has been its hero for the last two decades. Messi suffered an injury in the 64th minute and had to watch the remainder of the game from the sideline.
But even without the star, Argentina had just enough to win what could be Messi’s final Copa América game.
After the win, fans praised Martínez and Argentina for fighting through the exhaustion to win a second consecutive Copa América final.
Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano
🏆🇦🇷 ARGENTINA ARE COPA AMÉRICA CHAMPIONS!<br><br>Argentina have beaten Colombia 1-0 thanks to Lautaro Martínez’s goal.<br><br>🏆 Copa America 2021<br>🏆 Finalissima 2022<br>🏆 World Cup 2022<br>🏆 Copa America 2024<br><br>Insane job by this group of players and Lionel Scaloni. 👏🏻✨ <a href=”https://t.co/v0GOvHv9PS”>pic.twitter.com/v0GOvHv9PS</a>
Argentina’s performance in the final wasn’t its prettiest of the tournament by any means, but it delivered when it mattered most and it now has another title to show for it.
Argentina has had a strong stretch in international play in recent years, winning Copa América in 2021, the World Cup in 2022 and now claiming another Copa América title. It will now begin preparations to defend its World Cup in 2026.