Argentina Triumphs at Copa America 2024: Messi Leads with Grit and Glory
Lionel Messi pumped his arms, the trophy bouncing up and down in his grasp. Tears of frustration from an hour earlier had turned into laughs and hugs for the two-time Copa America champion and World Cup winner. Argentina, led by the legendary Messi, clinched their second straight Copa America championship, defeating Colombia 1-0 on Sunday night with Lautaro Martínez's 112th-minute goal.
The Grit of a Legend
Forced to watch much of the second half and extra time due to a leg injury, Messi's presence on the sidelines was as powerful as his presence on the pitch. "Leo is the greatest player in history," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter. "He never wants to leave the pitch. He has a swollen ankle and wants to keep playing. I prefer those players. He wants to play not because he is egotistical or selfish, but because he doesn’t want to leave his teammates. ... He was born to be on the pitch.”
Messi sustained a non-contact injury while running and falling in the 64th minute. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner covered his face with his hands as he sat on the bench, sobbing. But when Martínez scored the decisive goal, he ran to the bench to embrace his 37-year-old captain, who was limping but still radiating determination.
A Moment of Glory
After the final whistle sounded well past midnight, Messi, appearing to limp, called for his senior teammates to lift the trophy with him. 36-year-old Nicolás Otamendi and Ángel Di María, who announced his retirement from the national team, joined Messi as white confetti cascaded around them. The trio hugged, celebrating a victory that was as emotional as it was historic.
“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 always be 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 Night of High Drama
The match, held at Hard Rock Stadium, started 1 hour and 22 minutes late due to crowd control issues, including fans breaching security gates. This delay did nothing to dampen the spirit of the game, which saw Argentina clinch their third straight major title following the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup. They matched Spain’s record, which won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships around their 2010 World Cup victory.
Argentina’s victory also halted Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten streak, which dated back to a 1-0 loss to Albiceleste in a February 2022 World Cup qualifier. Martínez, who entered the game in the 97th minute, scored from Giovani Lo Celso’s perfect pass after Leandro Paredes stripped the ball from a Colombian player with a sliding tackle near the center stripe. Paredes exchanged passes with Martínez, then threaded the ball to Lo Celso, who one-timed a through ball as Martínez sprinted past defender Carlos Cuesta. Martínez took a touch that sent him into the penalty area and struck a right-foot shot through the upraised arms of sliding goalkeeper Camilo Vargas for his 29th international goal and his tournament-high fifth.
A Controversial Half-Time Show
The halftime performance by Colombian pop star Shakira caused an extended break, which drew criticism from Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo. He noted the sanctions given to coaches for late second-half returns to the pitch earlier in the tournament, arguing that continuity in halftime rules would be best to “safeguard the fitness and physical aptitude of the players.”
Despite these challenges, Argentina proved their resilience and determination. Numerous players lost their footing during the second half, and the grass, heavily watered with sprinklers following Shakira's performance, added to the difficulty. Still, Argentina's grit shone through.
Colombia's Effort and Argentina's Resilience
Colombia’s James Rodríguez was selected as the best player of the tournament, with six assists. Colombia's aggressive play forced goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to make four saves in the first half. However, Argentina began to threaten more in the second half, with Nicolás Tagliafico having a goal ruled offside in the 75th minute and Nicolás González, who replaced Messi, being stopped by Vargas in the 95th minute.
In the end, despite Colombia’s fans breaching security gates and Shakira’s electrifying halftime show, they were unable to stop an injured yet determined Messi and his Argentine teammates. Argentina’s triumph at the 2024 Copa America was a testament to their skill, determination, and the indomitable spirit of Lionel Messi, cementing their place in football history.