Argentina crowned Copa America champion after a final delayed by incidents and marked by Messi’s injury

The Argentines dominated the Colombians (1-0) on Sunday. Held in the United States, the competition was disrupted by a sometimes chaotic organization, while the country is due to host the World Cup in two years.

Already world champion in 2022, the Argentine football team added a new trophy, Sunday July 14, to its gargantuan list of achievements. Lionel Messi’s teammates dominated, in Miami (United States), the Colombians in the final of the Copa America, at the end of extra time. Lautaro Martinez scored the liberating goal in the 112th minute.

The Argentines thus won their second consecutive Copa America, after the one won in 2021 in Brazil, and the 16th in their history. The sporting black spot of the evening was that the Albiceleste saw their captain Lionel Messi go off injured in the 66th minute, with a damaged right ankle. In the first half, the Pulga had already suffered a heavy tackle, leaving him on the ground for several minutes. In the 64th minute, it was a bad step during a run in midfield that forced him to leave the pitch, limping.

Once on the bench, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, aged 37, appeared in tears, his ankle visibly swollen. The international future of the Argentine star is uncertain, even if he has not ruled out extending with the selection until the 2026 World Cup organised by the United States, where he plays for club (Inter Miami), Mexico and Canada. His compatriot Angel Di Maria also came off in tears, in the 117th minute, for his last selection.

The match was also marked by extra-sporting incidents. The match started 1h22 late, due to incidents at the stadium entrance. The police and security personnel used force and arrested several individuals who were trying to enter the stadium apparently without tickets. After several incidents, the stadium gates remained closed for several hours. Due to the heat and a very compact crowd, emergency workers had to intervene several times for fans who were feeling unwell. When the organizers finally reopened the accesses, the fans’ entry was once again chaotic, leading to tears and anger.

“They treat us like animals, the organization is non-existent. In any case, nothing was ready to welcome 60 000 people”, regretted Cécilia Cabarelli, an Argentinian supporter, to AFP. The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami is to host seven matches of the next World Cup in 2026, co-organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico. On Wednesday, violence had already broken out in the stands during the Colombia-Uruguay semi-final in Charlotte (North Carolina), leading to strong criticism against the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol).