Lautaro Martinez secured Argentina’s consecutive Copa América titles and a third consecutive major tournament victory with his crucial goal in extra time on Sunday night. His fifth goal of the tournament came in the 112th minute, propelling Argentina to a 1-0 triumph over Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium. Martinez’s winning strike was a skillful shot from the right side that eluded Colombia’s goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.
Martinez’s heroics came shortly after he was subbed into the game in the 97th minute as part of a triple substitution for Argentina. Notably, three of his five goals in the tournament were scored as a substitute. The absence of Lionel Messi for almost half the game due to the extra 30-minute period after a goalless regulation added to the drama.
Messi’s departure in the 65th minute due to injury left the Argentine bench in tears, possibly signaling the end of his major tournament appearances for his national team. The severity of Messi’s ankle injury was evident at the start of extra time, as TV cameras zoomed in on the swollen joint.
Following Martinez’s goal, Angel Di Maria was replaced by Nicolas Otamendi in the 117th minute. Di Maria, who was making his final appearance for Argentina, also bid an emotional farewell on the pitch. The victory marked Argentina’s 16th Copa América title, further solidifying their status as defending World Cup champions.
The game was marred by security breaches that caused a delay in kickoff, with chaos at the gates and overcrowding in the concourses at Hard Rock Stadium. Despite the disruptions, the match unfolded with Argentina emerging as the deserving champions in a hard-fought contest against Colombia.