![Argentina Beat Colombia To Win 2024 Copa America](https://maltadaily.mt/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/copaweb.jpg)
Argentina clinched the 2024 Copa América championship with a 1-0 victory over Colombia, courtesy of Lautaro Martínez’s extra-time goal in the 112th minute.
Martínez, the competition’s leading scorer with five goals, scored on a breakaway following a turnover. Argentina, the defending champions and 2022 World Cup winners, were tournament favorites and remained unbeaten throughout.
Despite losing Lionel Messi to an ankle injury in the 66th minute, they secured the title.
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The match experienced a delay of over an hour due to fans, many without tickets, rushing the stadium. Videos showed mostly Colombia supporters breaching security and evading police, resulting in several people requiring medical treatment. The situation was eventually controlled, allowing ticketed fans to take their seats.
Colombia started the match energetically, with several attempts on goal testing Argentina’s goalie Emiliano Martínez.
The defeat ended Colombia’s 28-game international win streak, which had begun after their last loss to Argentina in February 2022. Missing defender Daniel Muñoz, sent off in the semifinal against Uruguay, Colombia faced a challenging match.
Messi, having joined Inter Miami after stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, will not participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the next World Cup two years away.
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