They had to take this one home, yet again.
This one was for Lionel Messi, who sat from the Argentine bench with free-flowing tears following a right ankle injury that swelled after his exit in the 64th minute.
This was for Angel Di Maria, the big-game goal scorer playing in his final match with Argentina.
Di Maria took the captain band from Messi until his exit, where he hugged Messi on the bench to cap his international career.
And this one is for Argentina, the 2024 Copa America champions, after a 1-0 win over Colombia in a final that was eventful to say the least.
This one is for the world to put respect on Argentina for returning the Copa América in style.
With this victory, Lionel Messi and Argentina have secure their fourth straight title and the second consecutive Copa America crown.
Messi, the little magician, may not have been at his incredible best this campaign, but the dimunitive Argentine maestro stepped up when it mattered the most for the World Champions.
Lautaro Martinez, the club’s leading scorer this Copa America, scored another in the 112th minute of extra time to help Argentina make history.
Argentina won the 2024 Copa América championship 1-0 over Colombia after snatching victory with an extra-time goal in the 112th minute of a scoreless match.
Lautaro Martinez, who was the competition’s leading scorer with five goals, blasted a shot past Colombia goalie Camilo Vargas on a breakaway following a turnover.
Argentina, who were the defending champions of the tournament as well as World Cup winners in 2022, were the favorites of the tournament and never trailed during the competition.
But they were forced to win the title without arguably the sport’s greatest player when Lionel Messi was subbed out in the 66th minute with an ankle injury.
Lautaro Martinez of Argentina celebrates with teammates 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.
The game was marred by a delay of more than an hour after fans, many of whom didn’t have tickets, rushed the stadium and tried to get inside.
Video posted on social media showed fans, mostly wearing Colombia’s yellow and red colors, jumping over security railings near the southwest entrance of the stadium and running past police officers and stadium attendants. Screams could be heard in the background.
A handful of people could be seen receiving medical treatment and asking for water in the sweltering South Florida heat.
Officers were able to push the crowd behind the gates and lock down the entrance so that no one could get inside, although plenty of fans with tickets had already made it to their seats before then.
