Argentina denies Colombia in extra time to end manic Copa América final

It ended without Lionel Messi on the field, the Argentine superstar having left in tears 20 minutes into the second half with an injury to his lower right leg. Should Messi decide not to play in the 2026 World Cup, his marvelous tenure at major international tournaments has ended.

Argentina became the first South American team to win three consecutive major championships: the 2022 World Cup bracketed by Copa Américas. In the process, La Albiceleste broke the Colombians’ 28-game unbeaten streak — at 22-0-6, it was the longest in the world — and broke their hearts.

Colombia’s previous loss came almost 2½ years ago, also to Argentina and also on a Martínez goal. The country has not won Copa América since 2001.

“Being two-time champions of Copa América is very nice. We are happy,” Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez said. “We wanted to give people another joy. We showed that we were not going to relax.”

The start of the game, though, was delayed 1 hour 22 minutes because of crowd control issues outside sold-out Hard Rock Stadium. The problems started when many fans without tickets rushed through the gates when the venue opened three hours early. Some scaled walls.

Organizers subsequently shut off access to all but a trickle of fans for about three hours. Those outside the gates were pressed together in increasingly large numbers on a hot, humid afternoon. Several required medial assistance for heat exhaustion. Many adults and children were in tears after finally escaping the mass.

At about 8:15 p.m. — 15 minutes after the match was scheduled to begin — organizers reopened the gates without bothering to check tickets, creating a semi-orderly rush to the ramps and escalators.

Not all gates opened, though. As Shakira performed at halftime, a long, single-file line remained outside the southwest entrance. Some fans gave up and returned to their cars.

Pablo Ruiz, 49, from Argentina, said he flew to Miami with friends for just this match. He waited 90 minutes to get in while his friends were trapped outside.

“[Security] treated us like animals, like cows. It was bad. I tell you: The U.S. is not ready to host the World Cup [in 2026],” Ruiz said. A fan from greater Washington, who did not want to be identified, called it “one of the most frightening and chaotic situations I’ve ever encountered.”

Hard Rock Stadium is among 16 venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada slated to host the 2026 World Cup, soccer’s crown jewel. Seven other Copa América stadiums will also be used in 2026.

The World Cup is run by FIFA, the sport’s global governing body. Copa América is a production of CONMEBOL, the South American authority, which, for the second time in the tournament’s 108-year history, chose to stage the 16-nation event in the United States.

CONMEBOL received widespread criticism throughout the tournament for a range of issues, including field conditions and practice facilities. The most serious incident occurred after Wednesday’s semifinal in Charlotte. Uruguayan players entered the stands and fought with Colombian fans after the players’ families were allegedly harassed. Uruguayan Coach Marcelo Bielsa called tournament organizers a “plague of liars.”

As for the soccer, Brazil and the United States were busts. Unheralded Canada and Venezuela were revelations. The U.S. and Canadian teams were among six guests in a competition typically pitting the 10 traditional South American soccer countries.

In large numbers, Colombian and Argentine fans followed their teams from start to finish, creating ticket demand for the final that pushed prices into the thousands of dollars. Sunday’s crowd was a tapestry of Colombian yellow and Argentine sky blue.

Colombia Coach Néstor Lorenzo is Argentine but has found a home in his two years guiding the Colombians. “We separate our homeland from football,” he said. In Lorenzo’s hometown outside Buenos Aires, his 87-year-old mother had rallied the neighborhood to support Colombia.

Both teams threatened in the first half. Messi went down in the 36th minute, holding his right ankle. Not one to embellish injury, he needed two minutes of treatment.

The match crackled at the start of the second half. Argentina was on the cusp of a breakthrough. Colombia’s Camilo Vargas made a brilliant save on Ángel Di María’s low bid streaking toward the far corner. This game marked the end of Di María’s sterling international career after six Copa Américas and four World Cups.

Messi went down again in the 64th minute. His night was over. He limped to the bench and covered his grass-specked face as tears streamed down his cheeks. Argentine fans serenaded him.

The match turned prickly. Oppression outweighed opportunity. Argentina thought it had broken the tension with a 75th-minute goal, but the buildup was offside. Close calls in the final 10 minutes gave way to extra time.

Vargas thwarted Argentina again, making a diving save to smother Nicolás González’s one-timer. Exhaustion set in. With a set of late subs, Lorenzo inserted fresh bodies and minds.

Then came the goal, set up by Giovani Lo Celso. Martínez made a run on the right side and met Lo Celso’s pass in stride before lifting a 15-yard shot over Vargas for his tournament-best fifth goal.

Argentine fans went nuts. Messi hopped to his feet and joined a group hug.

Moments later, it ended. Players on both sides collapsed. Messi hobbled onto the field. Argentina was the champion again.

Colombian captain James Rodríguez was named the tournament’s best player. The trophy, though, escaped his team, which appeared in its fourth Copa América final.

“It is an experience that you feel in your whole body, playing in the final,” Lorenzo said. “I don’t feel it was a defeat. We were triumphant throughout the tournament. We are on the right path.”

Lorenzo said Argentina’s run of success is “not a streak; it’s an era.”

“I don’t know if we are marking an era,” Argentina Coach Lionel Scaloni said, “but this team continues to surprise everyone and overcome every opponent. It’s very gratifying to watch them play.”

Messi, the 37-year-old captain, welcomed Di María, 36, and defender Nicolás Otamendi, 36, to join him in accepting the trophy.

“I have so many beautiful feelings,” Di María said. “I am eternally grateful to this generation that made me achieve what I sought so much.”