Argentina triumphed over Colombia with a 1-0 victory in the Copa America final, marking their 16th title in the tournament’s history. The match, held in New Delhi, was delayed by over an hour due to fans rushing into the stadium without tickets.
The lone goal of the match came in the 112th minute of extra time, scored by Lautaro Martinez, who had entered the game as a substitute in the 96th minute. His decisive effort propelled Argentina past Uruguay, who have won the tournament 15 times.
Despite the victory, it was a challenging night for Argentina. Lionel Messi, the team’s talisman, was injured in the 38th minute after a heavy challenge from Arias and was eventually substituted out in the 66th minute. Messi, visibly in pain and needing medical attention, tried to continue but had to leave the field, replaced by Nico Gonzalez. The Argentine captain watched the rest of the match from the bench, visibly distraught.
Colombia dominated much of the game with 56% possession and 19 shots on goal, though only four were on target. Argentina, on the other hand, managed 11 shots with six on target. Martinez’s goal in extra time was enough to break the deadlock after a goalless 90 minutes, securing Argentina’s historic win.