Messi and Teammates Celebrate Victory After the final whistle, Messi, appearing to limp, called upon his senior teammates, 36-year-old Nicolás Otamendi and Ángel Di María, to join him in lifting the trophy. White confetti cascaded as the trio embraced. Di María, retiring from the national team, reflected emotionally on the moment.

Di María's Reflections “The truth is, it’s hard to describe,” Di María said. “It was written like that. I told the guys last night at dinner that I dreamt it. That’s why I said it was my last Copa America. I dreamt we made it to the final and we won it so I could go out this way. I’ll be always grateful to this generation who gave me everything, helped me win what I always wanted and today, I am leaving like this. It could not be better.”

A Historic Win for Argentina In a match that started 1 hour and 22 minutes late due to crowd trouble at Hard Rock Stadium, Argentina secured its third consecutive major title, following the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup. This victory also matched Spain's achievement of winning the 2008 and 2012 European Championships around the 2010 World Cup.

Ending Colombia's Unbeaten Streak Argentina ended Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten streak, which dated back to a 1-0 loss to Albiceleste in a February 2022 World Cup qualifier.



Martínez's Decisive Goal Martínez, who entered the game in the 97th minute, scored the winning goal from Giovani Lo Celso’s perfect pass. Leandro Paredes had stripped the ball from a Colombian player, leading to a sequence of quick passes culminating in Martínez’s right-footed shot through the arms of goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

Colombia's Struggle Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo noted the physical toll on his players, with many finishing the match with severe cramping due to the high temperatures and humidity.

Messi's Injury and Determination Messi, making his 39th and possibly last Copa America appearance, sustained an injury in the 36th minute but continued playing. Despite the injury, he remained active, encouraging his teammates even after he was forced off the field in the second half.

Delayed Start and Crowd Control Issues The match's start was delayed due to crowd control issues, with fans breaching security gates. Hard Rock Stadium later released a statement emphasizing their commitment to safety and addressing the concerns of disappointed ticket holders.

Match Highlights Colombia was more aggressive in the first half, forcing goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to make four saves. Argentina threatened more in the second half, with Nicolás Tagliafico's goal ruled offside and Nicolás González's attempt stopped by Vargas.

Challenges During the Match Numerous players lost their footing in the second half due to heavily watered grass following a halftime performance by Colombian pop star Shakira, which extended the break from 15 to 25 minutes. Lorenzo criticized the extended halftime, emphasizing the need for consistent rules to protect players' fitness.

James Rodríguez's Recognition Colombia’s James Rodríguez was named the best player of the tournament, with six assists.