Argentina Clinches Second Straight Copa America Amidst Drama
Argentina won its second consecutive Copa America title, defeating Colombia 1-0 with a late goal by Lautaro Martínez. Despite Lionel Messi's injury in the second half, the team matched Spain's record for consecutive major titles. The match was delayed due to crowd trouble, and Messi's future remains uncertain.
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Argentina secured its second consecutive Copa America title with a narrow 1-0 victory over Colombia, thanks to Lautaro Martínez's dramatic 112th-minute goal. The win came despite superstar Lionel Messi suffering a non-contact leg injury in the second half, casting doubt over his future in the tournament.
Messi was visibly emotional, breaking into tears on the bench after his injury, but his spirits lifted as Martínez celebrated with him after scoring the decisive goal. The match, held at Hard Rock Stadium, was delayed by over an hour due to crowd control issues, including fans breaching security gates.
This victory marks Argentina's third major title in a row, adding to their 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup triumphs, tying Spain's record. The win also ended Colombia's 28-game unbeaten streak. Despite a tough first half, Argentina turned the tide in the second, culminating in Martínez's goal from Giovani Lo Celso's perfect assist.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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