Argentina won its second straight Copa America championship, overcoming Lionel Messi’s second-half leg injury to beat Colombia 1-0 Sunday night on Lautaro Martinez’s 112th-minute goal.
Messi appeared to sustain a non-contact injury while running and falling in the 64th minute and covered his face with his hands when he sat on the bench. Martinez later ran to that bench to hug his captain after the goal that propelled Argentina to its record 16th Copa title.
In a match that started one hour, 20 minutes late because of crowd trouble at Hard Rock Stadium, Argentina won its third straight major title following the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup and matched Spain, which won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships around the 2010 World Cup.
Messi in tears after getting subbed off in the Copa America finals<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CA2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#CA2024</a> <a href=”https://t.co/uWR5wMW1pE”>pic.twitter.com/uWR5wMW1pE</a>
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Argentina also stopped Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten streak dating to a February 2022 loss to the Albiceleste.
Martinez entered in the 97th minute and scored from Giovani Lo Celso’s perfect through pass. Just inside the penalty area, to Martinez sent a right-foot shot through the upraised arms of sliding goalkeeper Camilo Vargas for his 29th international goal, his tournament-high fifth.
