Argentina Thrills Fans, Wins Copa America vs. Colombia Despite Lionel Messi Injury
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.
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer
ARGENTINA TAKES THE LEAD IN THE 112TH MINUTE 🇦🇷😱
Lautaro Martínez does it again 🔥 pic.twitter.com/i2p4e5Li8U
B/R Football @brfootball
LAUTARO IN THE 112TH MINUTE OF THE COPA AMÉRICA FINAL
It’s his 𝐟𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐡 goal of the tournament 😤 pic.twitter.com/EGrs2h2oL9
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.
B/R Football @brfootball
ARGENTINA ARE COPA AMÉRICA CHAMPIONS AGAIN 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/gDLNRkCerw
Inter Xtra @Inter_Xtra
THIS IS WHY YOU START YOUR BEST STRIKER.
THIS IS WHY YOU START THE TOURNAMENT TOP GOALSCORER.
LAUTARO MARTÍNEZ. CLUTCH. ⚽️🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/x1rV7oI6q6
𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 @TheEuropeanLad
1-0 Argentina.
LAUTARO MARTINEZ HAS DONE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE TOPSCORER OF THE TOURNAMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/rxQdxBWFN1
JAKE BUCKLEY 🇦🇺 @TheMasterBucks
Lautaro Martinez just scored the biggest goal of his life. An extra time goal to maybe win the Copa America.
And the first thing he did was run to hug Messi.pic.twitter.com/kXhqH63vp7
. @tsnmknd
Lautaro Martínez, been a top
5 striker in the world.Showing what he does in Serie A for country, finally.
Great finish.
𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 @TheEuropeanLad
FT: Argentina 1-0 Colombia.
ARGENTINA ARE COPA AMÉRICA CHAMPIONS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A ROW! 🇦🇷🌟 pic.twitter.com/88sbIXnmLN
All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 @AlbicelesteTalk
ARGENTINA ARE COPA AMERICA CHAMPIONS!!!!! 🥹🥹🥹❤️❤️❤️🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 @TheEuropeanLad
📸 – LIONEL MESSI IS BACK WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE!
HIS CAREER WITH ARGENTINA CONTINOUS TO GLOW AND GLOW! pic.twitter.com/HF5Vb14E2W
Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano
🏆🇦🇷 ARGENTINA ARE COPA AMÉRICA CHAMPIONS!
Argentina have beaten Colombia 1-0 thanks to Lautaro Martínez’s goal.
🏆 Copa America 2021
🏆 Finalissima 2022
🏆 World Cup 2022
🏆 Copa America 2024Insane job by this group of players and Lionel Scaloni. 👏🏻✨ pic.twitter.com/v0GOvHv9PS
𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 @TheEuropeanLad
Argentina have conceded ZERO goals the entire Copa América tournament with Lisandro Martínez on the pitch. pic.twitter.com/fMUHnhqUos
CentreGoals. @centregoals
Presenting the Copa América top goalscorer, ladies and gentlemen, Lautaro Martínez! 🇦🇷🔥 pic.twitter.com/M9B2bM6D2Z
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.
