football
Argentina defends Copa America title – Messi injured
Argentina is once again Copa America winner. Photo
© Rebecca Blackwell/AP/dpa
Copa title in 2021, World Cup triumph in 2022 and now the Copa again: Argentina wins the next title at the home game of its superstar Messi. There are many tears – also because Messi has to leave the field injured.
The game had started with a delay of almost one and a half hours because before kick-off some fans had broken through the barriers around the stadium and entered the grounds without permission.
With their 16th Copa title, the Albiceleste are the sole record champions. Three years ago, Argentina equalled Uruguay with their first title in 28 years. Colombia missed out on the second Copa title in its history after 2001. The day before, Uruguay won the match for third place 4:3 on penalties against Canada.
Shakira sings during halftime
At kick-off, 37-year-old Messi set another record: he is the first player to take part in five finals of the South American championship. It was also a home game for the multiple world footballer, who is under contract with Inter Miami in the USA. The match did not start well for Argentina: Colombia applied pressure from the start – but was not effective enough in the final stages. The Albiceleste struggled at first.
The score was 0:0 at halftime, and there was something new during the break: Pop star Shakira performed in the American football stadium – just like the halftime show during the American football Super Bowl. For this occasion, the break was extended from 15 to 25 minutes. Colombia’s coach Néstor Lorenzo had already complained before the match that the players could get cold as a result.
Farewell to Di María from the national team
After the restart, there were many fouls. The match went into extra time, which was introduced especially for the final, without a goal. In previous matches, draws went straight to penalties.
After a nice team play, Lautaro Martínez scored the decisive 1-0 goal in the 112th minute. Shortly afterwards, Ángel Di María was given his big farewell – the 36-year-old was substituted in tears in his last game for Argentina.