Argentina secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final, claiming their first major international trophy in 28 years. The match took place at the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Lionel Messi led his team to glory with a superb performance. This win marked a significant moment for Argentine football and solidified Messi's status as one of the greatest players of all time.
The game was tightly contested from start to finish, with both teams creating scoring opportunities but failing to capitalize on them. However, it was Argentina who broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Angel Di Maria scored a stunning goal after receiving a pass from Rodrigo De Paul. From that moment on, Argentina's defense held firm against Colombia's attacking threats, ensuring they maintained their lead until the final whistle.
The first 90 minutes plus four minutes of stoppage time wasn't enough to settle an exciting Copa América final as the two teams went into extra time scoreless. The next 30 minutes saw two exhausted teams battle for the lead, and Argentina finally took it in the 111th minute after a goal from Lautaro Martínez, who notched his fifth of the tournament
Martinez’s goal came just minutes after he entered the game in the 97th minute as part of a triple substitution for Argentina. His five goals led all scorers at Copa América and three of them came after he entered the game as a substitute.
Argentina played nearly half the game without Lionel Messi because of the extra 30-minute period after a 0-0 deadlock at the end of regulation.
Messi left the game in the 65th minute after he crumpled to the ground while chasing the ball. He seemed to know right away that he was injured. It didn’t take long for the bench to ready a replacement in the form of Nicolas Gonzalez.
The win makes Argentina the first-ever nation to win two consecutive Copa Américas and the World Cup in between them. Messi's squad matches 2008-2012 Spain as the only country to make an equally dominant run. It also snaps a 28-game unbeaten streak for a very impressive Colombia squad.
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