Chaos breaks out at Copa America final after fans storm gates without tickets
USA TODAY Sports reporter Safid Dean describes fans who jumped fences and were detained while trying to sneak into the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — This time it was Lionel Messi, who sat on the Argentine bench nursing a torn right ankle after suffering an ankle injury after being substituted in the 64th minute of the game.D minute.
This was for Angel Di Maria, the leading scorer in major matches, who played his last match for Argentina. He took the armband from Messi until his exit, embracing Messi on the bench to crown his international career.
And this one for Argentina, the 2024 Copa America champions, after their 1-0 win over Colombia in a final that was eventful to say the least.
Lautaro Martinez, the club’s top scorer in this Copa America, scored another goal in the 112th minute.D One minute of extra time to help Argentina make history.
Argentina won the 2021 Copa America. They also won the World Cup in Qatar 2022. This is the third major international title they have won in a three-year period.
Argentina, one of the greatest dynasties in football history, completed their Copa America campaign without their best players – even after the match was delayed for at least an hour and twenty minutes due to unruly fans without tickets breaching security two hours before the match.
Messi tried to run hard in the 64th minuteD A minute before he fell to the ground, he immediately signaled to the coaches.
Messi’s right boot was removed, and the captain’s ribbon was also ripped from his left arm. He walked slowly to the Argentina bench before bursting into tears as he was substituted.
Messi’s right foot was clearly swollen, as seen on the FOX broadcast after he removed the bandage and ice.
Messi suffered an injury to his right ankle during the first half, and tried to chase the ball and kick it before it went out of play, but when he planted his right foot, it bent into an uncomfortable position as he shot the ball with his left foot.
But you couldn’t see Messi’s pain when it came time to celebrate.
Argentina, the defending World Cup champions led by Messi, won their second consecutive Copa America title.
Colombia were unable to extend their 28-match unbeaten run, losing their last two matches to Argentina.
USA TODAY Sports has the latest updates and highlights from Sunday night’s game in Miami:
Argentina won a record 16th Copa America title with a 1-0 win over Colombia. Argentina’s latest title comes after victories at the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America.
Moments after Lautaro Martinez gave Argentina a 1-0 lead in the second half of extra time, emotions were running high as both teams engaged in some extra fun.
Hugs along the Argentine bench. Lautaro Martinez, the club’s top scorer in this Copa America, has once again managed to shine with another goal.
Martinez scored in the second half of extra time, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead.
If the score remains the same, the match will end and will not go to penalties.
Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez miss a precious chance: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Argentina’s Angel Di Maria sent a beautiful pass into the penalty area, but he failed to deal with Lautaro Martinez sliding in front of the net.
The second extra time: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
After the first period of extra time ended goalless, we now head to another 15 minutes before the penalty shootout.
Messi’s ankle is swollen: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Look at this picture of Messi’s right ankle.
After two halves ended in a goalless draw, the Copa America final will go into extra time. Teams will play two halves of 15 minutes each in the hope of scoring a goal. If the match is still tied after extra time, it will be decided by penalty kicks.
Nicolas Gonzalez’s header is the closest Argentina came to scoring: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
A great run of goals from Argentina, including a Nicolas Gonzalez header that was needed to end the game. Play continues.
Nicolas Tagliafico is offside in this close-range effort by Argentina.
Here is the sad scene of Messi crying on the sidelines of the match after his exit.
Messi fell to the ground and immediately asked for help from the coaches. It looked like Messi was trying to run as fast as he could, but he tripped himself.
The captain’s tape was taken off, his right boot was removed, and he was slowly walked off the pitch, emotional during the Copa America final in the 65th minute.
Messi covers his face, as he cries on the sidelines.
Angel Di Maria, playing his last game for Argentina, was on the verge of scoring another big goal in a big game, but to no avail.
Colombia had a chance to start the second half, but they couldn’t take it.
Messi, who had injured his right ankle, returned to the game at the start of the second half.
Messi looked in fine form, curling in a superb corner, but Nicolas Tagliafico’s header went over just before half-time.
Lionel Messi appears to have suffered an injury to his right ankle during the first half of the Copa America final.
Messi tried to chase the ball and hit it before it went out of play, and he planted his right foot, which was bent in an uncomfortable position before he hit the ball. Messi’s face showed severe pain and he rolled onto his back several times towards the pitch to be assessed by the coaches.
Eventually, Messi got up to leave the pitch, but not without limping visibly. He eventually returned to the pitch and stayed in the game.
The injury occurred in the 36th minute.D Minute 13 of the first half, during a match that ended in a goalless draw.
Colombia’s Jefferson Lerma found some space and let one through on goal. The ball was just outside the left post, and into the hands of Argentine goalkeeper Dipo Martinez.
Lionel Messi had a chance and fired a powerful shot but Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez saved it 20 minutes from time.
This shot by Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba almost gave them an early lead.
Before his last match with Argentina, Angel Di Maria’s daughters gave him the ball before the match:
Messi looks ready for Copa America final.. Here’s the latest news
Okay, the stadium was packed, and the music filled the delay. Now, the players were introduced to the crowd.
During the warm-up before the match, Lionel Messi took this free kick.
The situation with fans trying to enter Hard Rock Stadium led to the game being delayed for a half hour.
The match is now scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m. ET.
At around 8:11 p.m., police intervened and the gates opened, allowing fans — with or without scanned tickets — into the stadium for the Copa America final.
Fans without tickets for Sunday’s Copa America final climbed over fences and security barriers more than an hour before Argentina’s match against Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium.
USA TODAY Sports saw at least seven people being treated by Miami-Dade firefighters near the ramps leading to the stadium. The people appeared to be in distress and had red faces, and were given water bottles as they sat on the ground and along a low wall.
Messi scores to send Argentina into Copa America final
Lionel Messi scored Argentina’s second goal of the match to help his team win 2-0 over Canada and qualify for the Copa America final.
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President Joe Biden will address the nation shortly before the Copa America final, forcing FS1 to start the game at 8 p.m.
The game will continue on FOX after Biden’s speech, FOX Sports announced.
Spain won Euro 2024 with a 2-1 win over England earlier on Sunday and could play the winner of the 2024 Copa America in the summer of 2025. The date or venue has yet to be determined.
The last final between the Copa America and European champions was held in 2022 when Argentina beat Italy.
The Argentina vs Colombia match will be broadcast on FOX in English, and Univision in Spanish.
How to watch: Watch the full list of Copa America matches with a fuboTV subscription
Live streaming can be found on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app in English, and on TUDN in Spanish.
Yes, Messi will be in the game, and is expected to start tonight’s final, his ninth with Argentina.
What awaits Argentina in the Copa America final?
Messi and Argentina could put the finishing touches on one of the greatest dynasties football has ever seen.
Winning another Copa America title tonight would be Argentina’s fourth international title in three years.
Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, beat Euro 2021 champions Italy in the 2022 final two summers ago, and won the World Cup in Qatar 2022.
What awaits Colombia in the Copa America final?
Colombia was unable to compete in the World Cup in Qatar, so this Copa America was an important experience for the national team and the country.
Colombia hopes to win its second Copa America title (2001), and will play in the Copa America final for the third time (1975, 2001).
Argentina 2, Colombia 1: James Rodriguez may be able to create a set piece to score, but Argentina will rely on goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria to win this title as they have done in other tournaments, thanks to the elder statesman. Sorry, my Colombian friends. But this Argentine dynasty will not end tonight. Safieddine, Lionel Messi’s correspondent.
Argentina’s odds of winning are +110 during the 90-minute match, while the odds of a draw are +190 and Colombia’s odds of winning are +320. According to BETMGMTo get the trophy, Argentina’s odds of winning are -190, while Colombia’s odds of winning are +138.
How long is Colombia’s unbeaten streak?
Colombia are unbeaten in their last 28 matches. Their last defeat was a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in an Olympic qualifier on February 1, 2022.
Argentina’s record in the last three years
Argentina have lost just three of their last 63 matches. Their last three defeats were: to Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semi-final, to Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup, and to Uruguay in the Olympic qualifiers last November.
Will this be Messi’s last match with Argentina?
Messi, the 37-year-old star of Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, could play his last match in a major tournament for Argentina in the Copa America final. Although Messi has left the door open to playing in the 2026 World Cup, pending his health and desire to continue playing, this match could be his last in a major tournament if he changes his mind.
Tonight’s match will be the last in an Argentina shirt for Angel Di Maria, the leading scorer in major matches who helped Messi lift the burden of international trophies off his back during the club’s recent run of trophies.
Messi, 37, has left the door open to playing in the 2026 World Cup. Here’s what he said earlier this year about when he might retire.
It’s weird to imagine how Messi took these photos with 17-year-old Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal when Yamal was just a little boy. Here’s the story behind the widely shared photos of Messi and Yamal.
Inter Miami star and Uruguay’s top scorer Luis Suarez scored a last-gasp equalizer to send his team into a penalty shootout. Suarez also converted the winning penalty to help Uruguay beat Canada 2-2 (4-3 on penalties) in the Copa America third-place match.
Canada finished fourth at the 2024 Copa America, but have had a strong showing ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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