Argentina wins 16th Copa title, beating Colombia on late goal from Lautaro Martinez Copyright by Getty Images Argentina won a record-extending 16th Cop…ADVERTISEMENT Tired of Missing Soccer Games?
Martinez, who had replaced Angel di Maria in the first period of extra time, collected a fine through ball from Giovani Lo Celso before dinking his effort over onrushing Colombia keeper Camilo Vargas to trigger jubilant scenes at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
Argentina’s new championship added to their successes at the 2022 World Cup and last year’s Copa America also provides perhaps a perfect farewell for Lionel Messi, as the going away eight-times Ballon d’Or winner victory in probably his final international competition.
It leaves Angel di Maria to contend with a grudge that no one else in the long rivalry will know: he is almost certainly walking away from his final international tournament.
Soon to announce his international retirement is 36-year-old defender Nicolas Otamendi.
“It was written, this or that,” said Di Maria, 36. I dreamt it, I dreamed that we were going to make a final and win it like this before retiring.
“Blessed with lovely emotions, I have been and will always be grateful to all of you live in this era my final adieu at last as #DrAshokChakravarthy”
CONMEBOL, the governing body of South America’s football federation in charge of those games pushed off start time three times after videos emerged on social media that showed security with scuffling fans running across concourses and gate-crashing to demand their way into stadium.
