Lautaro Martinez’s last-minute strike gives Argentina their 16th Copa America title and a 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia | Football News

Lautaro Martinez scored in the 111th minute as Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to win the 2024 Copa America at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA. This is Argentina’s 16th title in South America’s premier international competition, overtaking Uruguay as the most successful team in its history. This is also Argentina’s second consecutive Copa America title, in addition to the 2022 World Cup title won by both teams together.

Captain and talisman Lionel Messi had to be substituted in the second half, which ended 0-0, due to a leg injury. Both teams traded blows in an often chaotic half hour of extra time, as they did for much of normal time. Inter Milan’s Martinez then received the ball from Giovanni Lo Celso after Leandro Paredes had won it in midfield. Martinez fired the ball straight over Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas to score what turned out to be the winning goal.

The start of the match was delayed by over an hour due to crowd disturbances. Fans without tickets streamed through the gates, leading to mass panics and chaotic scenes in various parts of the stadium.

Argentina dominated play for much of the hectic first half of extra time, but Colombia looked far more dangerous. Messi’s night in Miami ended early when he emotionally left the field in the 64th minute with an apparent leg injury. The 37-year-old appeared to sustain a non-contact injury as he ran at full speed down the pitch as defending champions Argentina remained goalless against Colombia.

Messi has struggled with a leg injury and discomfort for much of the tournament and missed Argentina’s group stage final, but had one attempted shot in the first half on Sunday.

Messi immediately looked towards the Argentinian bench as he fell to the ground. He lay there for several minutes while the coaches came out. He was helped to his feet and immediately removed his right shoe. As he left the field, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner took off his captain’s armband and threw his shoe on the ground in frustration. Messi then burst into tears for a long time before throwing himself back into the action as the game went into extra time.

To be updated…