Messi tears turn to joy as Argentina beat Colombia to win Copa America

Forward withdrawn midway through second half with an ankle injury, but Lautaro Martinez's extra-time winner clinches record 16th Copa title

Argentina captain Lionel Messi holds the Copa America trophy while celebrating with teammates after defeating Colombia 1-0 in final Miami Gardens, Florida, on Monday, July 15, 2024. AP Photo

Lionel Messi of Argentina puts on his medal after his side's victory in the Copa America final. AP

Lionel Messi of Argentina is all smiles after helping his side claim a record 16th Copa America title. AFP

Argentina players celebrate their 1-0 extra-time victory over Colombia in the 2024 Copa America final. AFP

Lionel Messi of Argentina in action against Colombia's James Rodriguez. EPA

Argentina forward Lionel Messi and midfielder Enzo Fernandez celebrate their team's 1-0 win over Colombia. EPA

Argentina forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch in tears midway through the second half after picking up an ankle injury. AFP

Argentina goalscorer Lautaro Martinez of receives the top scorer trophy. AFP

Lautaro Martinez of Argentina in action against Colombia's Johan Mojica. EPA

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 14: Lautaro Martinez of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Final match between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Maddie Meyer / Getty Images / AFP (Photo by Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria and Rodrigo De Paul of Argentina celebrate. AFP

Angel Di Maria played his last game for Argentina, walking away with a winner's medal in the Copa America final. AFP

Lionel Messi watched from the bench as Lautaro Martinez's extra-time goal gave Argentina a 1-0 win over Colombia and a record-breaking 16th Copa America title.

Messi left the field in tears midway through the second half of a game delayed by more than an hour by crowd issues, but Martinez came off the bench in the extra half-hour to ensure his captain would lift a third successive major trophy.

The win in Miami followed the 2021 Copa America success and the World Cup triumph in 2022.

The win also marked Angel di Maria's final Argentina match after the 36-year-old winger said last year he would retire from international football after the Copa, while defender Nicolas Otamendi, 36, is also set to end his international career.

"The truth is, this was written, it was this way," Di Maria said. "I dreamed it, I dreamed that I would arrive to the final and win it and retire in this way.

"I have so many beautiful feelings and I am eternally grateful to this generation and today I am leaving in this way with a title."

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni took Di Maria off in the final minutes of extra time, ensuring he received a huge farewell from the team's fans which his eyes showed he was moved by.

"I have so many beautiful feelings. I am eternally grateful to this generation, they gave me everything, they made me achieve what I wanted so much, and today I am leaving in this way, how better than this?" he said.

The match kicked off an hour and 20 minutes late after security closed gates at the Hard Rock Stadium, one of the sites for the 2026 World Cup, after fans attempted to enter the stadium without tickets.

When it did get underway, Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez had an early chance for the defending champions but Colombia made the brighter start with Liverpool’s Luis Diaz forcing an early save from Camilo Vargas while Jhon Cordoba struck a post.

Alvarez inadvertently blocked an effort from Messi, who went down with what looked like an ankle injury before the break but was able to swing in a free kick which Nicolas Tagliafico headed over.

The second half saw both teams have spells on the front foot, but neither side were able to seize control – Angel di Maria, in his last international appearance, forcing a couple of saves from Vargas.

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi went down again just after the hour and this time was unable to continue, limping off to watch on in tears from the bench.

His replacement Nicolas Gonzalez had a couple of chances while Di Maria was unable to sort his feet out to fashion a shot after Colombia gave the ball away cheaply.

Gonzalez had the best chance of the first period of extra time, but could only shoot straight at Vargas following Rodrigo De Paul’s cut back.

Lisandro Martinez produced an excellent block on Miguel Borja as time ran out and within moments Argentina were ahead.

De Paul won the ball near halfway, finding Lautaro Martinez who exchanged passes with fellow substitute Giovani Lo Celso and the tournament’s top scorer made no mistake with a clear view of Vargas’ goal.

Argentina's win saw them move ahead of Uruguay after the pair had been tied on 15 Copa titles. It also ended a record 28-match unbeaten streak for Colombia, whose last defeat also came against La Albiceleste in February 2022.

"It hurts after a tournament that the whole team fought for, it hurts when you compete to win and we felt we deserved more. But we have to thank the people," Colombia defender Davinson Sanchez said.

"We wanted to give the victory to a country that deserves it, Colombia deserves everything, and we leave empty-handed, but we will go on."

In a small consolation for Colombia, midfielder and captain James Rodriguez was named player of the tournament, after notching six assists to break Messi's previous record of five assists in a single edition of the Copa America.