Lautaro Martinez's late strike delivers Copa America glory to Argentina

Lionel Messi lifts the 2024 Copa America trophy with Argentina after beating Colombia [FIFA World Cup/Twitter]

Argentina claimed the 2024 Copa América title on Sunday, July 14, with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Colombia, thanks to Lautaro Martinez's decisive extra-time goal.

The match, played in South Florida, remained goalless until Martinez scored in the 112th minute, capitalizing on a Colombian defensive error.

The Inter Milan forward, who emerged as the tournament's top scorer with five goals, seized a breakaway opportunity and skillfully placed the ball past Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

??? Campeones! pic.twitter.com/8A10806o1F — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2024

Despite being favourites and defending champions, Argentina faced a significant challenge when their captain and star player, Lionel Messi, was forced to leave the field in the 66th minute due to an ankle injury.

Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023 after stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, was visibly emotional as he exited the pitch. His teammates, however, rose to the occasion, maintaining their composure and ultimately securing the win.

The match was marred by a pre-game incident where ticketless fans, predominantly in Colombia's yellow and red, tried to storm the stadium. Videos circulating on social media showed these fans scaling security railings and clashing with police and stadium staff. The commotion led to an hour-long delay, with some fans needing medical attention due to the intense heat. Authorities eventually managed to control the situation, ensuring the match proceeded as scheduled.

Once play began, Colombia came out strong, challenging Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez with several early attempts. However, Argentina's defence held firm and the team's resilience paid off with Martinez's late goal.

The win ended Colombia's impressive 28-game unbeaten streak, which had stretched back to February 2022 and included a previous loss to Argentina.

It solidifies Argentina's dominance in South American football, adding to their 2022 World Cup triumph and making them the first nation to win consecutive Copa América titles, with a World Cup victory in between, a feat previously achieved only by Spain from 2008 to 2012.

Colombia was also hindered by the absence of defender Daniel Muñoz, who was suspended after receiving a second yellow card in the semifinals against Uruguay.