Lionel Messi and Argentina are the toast of South America once more.
In many ways, it’s like buses – you wait ages for one and then they all come along at once.
Until three years ago at the age of 34, Messi’s maiden title on the international stage, the diminutive superstar had never won a senior tournament for his country.
Now he has won three in as many years, after the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup, to become world football’s most decorated player.
The holders didn’t have all their own way in the Copa America showpiece – and Messi only played a bit part – but when the prolific Lautaro Martinez struck in the second half of extra time from Giovani lo Celso’s through ball, their success was assured.
Highlights of the game
Before we were treated to any Copa America highlights, we had to wait.
Kick-off was delayed by 80 minutes (something that needs to be addressed before the World Cup is hosted here in 2026) because of trouble outside the ground.
Organisers said ticketless fans tried to get into the Hard Rock Stadium, leaving some suporters– including players’ families – waiting for hours in the Miami heat for the gates to open.
Police officers and security clashed with fans and several supporters needing treatment from paramedics.
On top of that, the half-time break lasted for 25 minutes because of a concert by Colombian popstar Shakira on the pitch, a move that was criticised by Colombia boss Nestor Lorenzo beforehand.
When the contest did get underway, it was a tale of two countries and a tale of two number 10s.
Football is one of the main threads linking the two countries at opposite ends of South America and is almost a father-and-son relationship.
Along with Uruguay, Argentina were first out of the blocks in South American football, while Colombia didn’t participate in the Copa America until 1945.
Soon afterwards, Colombia launched a pirate professional league. Outside the control of FIFA, it did not have to pay transfer fees.
At this very moment Argentina’s players went on strike. And so Colombia lured many of the big names north – including the great Alfredo di Stefano, who starred up front for Millonarios of Bogota for a few years before going on to change European football with Real Madrid.
Since then, there has always been a strong Argentine influence on Colombian football. Frequently the national team coach comes from Argentina, as is the case now, with Lorenzo doing a fine job.
Until this match, he had been unbeaten as head coach since his appointment in July 2022.
A lot of people questioned the Colombian football federation as why someone who, in terms of managerial experience, can still be considered raw is managing one of South America’s biggest footballing nations.
Yet his record before the final of 21 wins and seven draws was an emphatic answer to his critics.
In a game of few clear chances in humid conditions, Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba struck the woodwork in the first half and, when Messi left the field, the SBOTOP Copa America betting odds may well have tilted away from La Albiceleste.
Led by the likes of James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz, Colombia topped their group and the final represented a chance to end a long wait since their first Copa America triumph in 2001.
In recent weeks, he had been playing at the same level he reached in 2014, when his performances at the World Cup culminated in a £63m move from Monaco to Real Madrid, making him the fourth most expensive footballer in history after Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suárez. His performances at the World Cup resulted in the infamous headline: “The name is Bond, James Rodríguez.”
What is all the more impressive is that Rodríguez continues to flourish for his country while having a journeyman club career. Coming into the Copa América, he had registered just 36 minutes of Brasileirao action for São Paulo FC this season.
Yet even with Rodriguez, rolling back the years at the age of 33, they could not quite get over the line.
Even when Messi left the field in tears, replaced midway through the second half after injuring himself while chasing for the ball, Colombia could not take advantage and so it was left to Angel Di María, handed the captain’s armband on his 145th and final game in an Argentina career spanning six Copa América tournaments, who was presented with the trophy.
Let alone their own continent, Argentina are on top of the world in every single way right now.
Key statistics
With a 16th Copa America title, Argentina are now the most successful side in the competition’s history.
They have also won 27 of their 44 meetings against Colombia in all competitions.
What’s next?
That concludes a very long 2023-24 campaign.
The two nations are back in action in September when World Cup qualification begins, including a clash with each other as soon as September 10 in Barranquilla.
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