Messi's Copa-Drama ended with a Happy End for Argentina
Lionel Messi wept bitter tears in the Copa America finale, but he could still celebrate: Argentina defended its title successfully. The final was a thriller.
At first, Lionel Messi wept uncontrollably, then there was no holding back: Argentina's Football World Cup champion won the Copa America for the 16th time in a chaotic and dramatic final in Miami. The team secured the victory in the final, where the referee's whistle was delayed by 82 minutes due to chaos at the entrance.
The golden goal in this thrilling final was scored by Lautaro Martinez in the 112th minute. Superstar Messi was no longer on the field: The eight-time World Footballer had been substituted in tears in the 66th minute due to an injury that apparently occurred without opposition. Sitting on the bench, Messi, whose future in the national team is uncertain, watched the game partially in tears.
"Last Battles" of the veterans
For Messi, it was the second triumph in his fifth Copa America final. He had finished second at the 2007 World Cup, the oldest international tournament in the world, in 2015 and 2016. The first victory came in 2021. Following that were the titles against Europe's then-champion Italy in the Finalissima and against France in the World Cup in Qatar - and now the triumph in the USA.
The next World Cup final in the USA, Mexico, and Canada is still two years away. As for Messi, it's uncertain what comes next. "These are the last battles, and we enjoy them in full," the 37-year-old had said before the game. We, that's Messi, Nicolas Otamendi, and Angel Di Maria (both 36). Only the last-named had already decided that with the Copa, the Seleccion chapter would end for him.
Chaos at the entrance causes panic
Large problems at the entrance significantly delayed the start of the match. Dozens of fans tried to force their way into Hard Rock Stadium in Miami without a ticket before the whistle. The gates remained closed as a result, and the stadium security of the news agency AFP reported that the turnstiles were closed.
Behind the barriers, chaotic conditions prevailed with temperatures above 30 degrees. Panic broke out in the dense crowd at times. Some fans had to be treated medically. The Miami Dade Police Department reported in a statement that "several incidents" had occurred. "These incidents were the result of uncooperative fan behavior attempting to enter the stadium."
The referee's whistle was therefore postponed several times - first to 2:30 am CET, then at 15-minute intervals. The Brazilian referee Raphael Claus finally whistled the game to start at 3:22 am CET (11:22 pm local time) - with a delay of almost one and a half hours.
Despite being substituted due to an injury, Lionel Messi watched as Argentina secured the Copa America title once again, making it their 16th victory in the tournament. In the thrilling final against unnamed opponents, Lautaro Martinez scored the golden goal in the 112th minute.
Undeterred by the chaos at the entrance of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which delayed the start of the game, Lionel Messi, along with veterans Nicolas Otamendi and Angel Di Maria, sought to cherish their "last battles" in the Copa America, with Di Maria announcing his retirement from international football following their victory.
