A chaotic scene broke out at the Copa America final as fans staged a blockade without tickets
Safit Deen of USA TODAY Sports describes how fans trying to enter the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia were stopped by jumping over fences.
Miami Gardens, Fla. – The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia goes into extra time without star player Lionel Messi, who was sidelined with a right leg injury.
Score: Argentina 0, Colombia 0 after 90 minutes. Clubs will play two 15-minute periods hoping for a score. If the game is still tied after extra time, it will be decided by penalty kicks.
Messi came off in the 64th minute and was seen crying on the sidelines after his exit, unable to help Argentina end this historic run with another championship.
Messi will play the second half after injuring his right ankle during the first half. He tried to chase before the ball went out of bounds. But when Messi planted his right foot, it deflected badly as he kicked with his left foot.
Messi grimaced in pain and rolled several times towards the pitch to be evaluated by trainers. He eventually stood up to walk under his own power, but not without a groan. He eventually returned to the pitch and was on the first play of the first half.
The Argentina vs. Colombia game did not start until 9:22 p.m., after the original kickoff time of 8 p.m. The match was delayed after ticketless fans breached the security gates around 6 p.m., causing fans to be parked outside the stadium before the game. .
Messi-led reigning World Cup champions Argentina are hoping to make history by winning the Copa America for the second time in a row.
Colombia – riding a 28-match unbeaten run to the finals – will be hoping to win their second Copa America final and avenge their last loss against Argentina in February 2022.
As USA TODAY Sports provides live coverage of Sunday night’s matchup in Miami, follow along here:
After two goalless halves, the Copa America final heads into extra time. Clubs will play two 15-minute periods in hopes of scoring. If the game is still tied after extra time, it will be decided by penalty kicks.
Nicolás González hatter nets for Argentina: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
A good line-up from Argentina, including this header from Nicolas Gonzalez, required a finish. The game continues.
Nicolas Tagliafico was caught offside in this near miss from Argentina.
Here’s the sad scene of Messi crying from the sidelines after he left.
Messi fell down and immediately sought help from the coaches. Messi seemed to try to run as fast as he could, but he tripped himself.
The captain banded off during the Copa America final in the 65th minute, his right cleat dislodged, and he limped off the pitch.
Messi is crying on the sidelines with his face covered.
Angel Di Maria, playing his final game for Argentina, scored another big goal in a big game. But to no avail.
Colombia had chances to start the second half, but couldn’t score.
Messi re-entered the match at the start of the second half after suffering a right ankle injury.
Messi looked good by delivering a stellar corner kick. But a header from Nicolas Tagliafico was high over the net just before half-time.
Lionel Messi appears to have injured his right ankle during the first half of the Copa America final.
Messi tries to chase a ball and it goes out of bounds. He planted his right foot and it bent in an awkward position before receiving the kick. Messi grimaced in pain and rolled several times towards the pitch to be evaluated by trainers.
Messi eventually stood up to walk under his own power, but not without visible limping. He eventually returned to the pitch and stayed in the game.
Injured at 36Th A minute of the first half during a goalless game.
Colombia’s Jefferson Lerma finds some space and heads towards the net. It was just outside the left post, the outstretched arms of Argentina goalie Dibu Martinez.
Lionel Messi had an opening and shot, but his kick was deflected by Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez before the 20th minute.
This shot by Colombia’s John Cordoba almost led to an early lead. Very close.
Before his final game with Argentina, Angel Di Maria’s daughters presented him with the game ball before the match:
Messi ready for Copa America final: Here’s the latest
Well, the arena is packed and the music fills the delay. Now, the players are introduced to the crowd.
During the pregame warm-ups, Lionel Messi took this free kick.
The match was delayed for half an hour as fans tried to enter the Hard Rock stadium.
Kickoff is now scheduled for 9:15 PM ET.
At 8:11 p.m., police officers retreated and opened the gates, allowing fans — with and without scanned tickets — to enter the stadium for the Copa America final.
Fans without tickets to Sunday’s Copa America final climbed fences and ran past security more than an hour into the Argentina-Colombia match at Hard Rock Stadium.
At least seven people were seen by USA TODAY Sports being treated by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue near the entrance ramps to the stadium. People appeared distressed with red faces and were offered water bottles on a low wall while sitting on the ground.
Messi scores to lead Argentina to Copa America final
Lionel Messi scored Argentina’s second goal to help his side beat Canada 2-0 to reach the Copa America final.
Unbranded – Sports
Pres. Joe Biden will address the nation shortly before the Copa America final, forcing FS1 to broadcast the match 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 Copa America 2024 winner in the summer of 2025. A date or venue has yet to be determined.
The last final between the Copa and Euro champions was in 2022 when Argentina beat Italy.
The Argentina vs. Colombia match will be broadcast in English on FOX and in Spanish on Univision.
How to watch: Watch the full slate of Copa America games with a fuboTV subscription
The live stream can be found in English on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app and in Spanish on TUDN.
Yes, Messi plays. He is expected to start his ninth game for the Argentina national team in tonight’s final.
What chance do Argentina have in the Copa America final?
Messi and Argentina could put the finishing touches on one of the greatest dynasties football has ever seen.
Another Copa America title tonight would be Argentina’s fourth major international championship in the space of three years.
Argentina won the Copa America 2021. It beat Euro 2021 champions Italy in the 2022 Finalissima two summers ago. Argentina won the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
What chance does Colombia have in the Copa America final?
Colombia could not participate in the Qatar World Cup, so this Copa America is a significant experience for the national team and the country.
Colombia hopes to win its second Copa America title (2001) and play in its third Copa America final (1975, 2001).
Argentina 2, Colombia 1: James Rodriguez could produce a set piece to secure a place in the group, but Argentina will rely on goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria to clinch the title. Sorry, my Colombian friends. But this Argentine dynasty will not end tonight. – Safit Deen, Lionel Messi Correspondent.
Argentina win at 90 minutes odds +110, while draw +190, and Colombia win +320, According to BETMGM. Argentina have -190 chances to win the trophy, while Colombia have +138.
How long is Colombia’s unbeaten streak?
Colombia are unbeaten in their last 28 matches. Their last defeat was a 1–0 loss 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 losses: to Brazil in the Copa America 2019 semi-finals; 2022 World Cup opener for Saudi Arabia; For Uruguay in the Olympic qualifier last November.
Could this be Messi’s last game with Argentina?
Messi, the 37-year-old Inter Miami star in Major League Soccer, may play his last game in a major tournament for Argentina during the Copa America final. While Messi has left the door open to play at the 2026 World Cup, pending his health and desire to continue playing, if he changes his mind, the match could be his last at a major tournament.
Big man Angel Di Maria, who helped take the international monkey off Messi’s back during the club’s recent championship run, will have his final game in the Argentina jersey tonight.
Messi, 37, has left the door open to play at the 2026 World Cup. Here’s what he had to say earlier this year about when he might retire.
It’s surreal to imagine how Messi posed with 17-year-old Spaniard Lamin Yamal for these photos when Yamal was a child. Here’s the story behind the viral photos of Messi and Yamal.
Inter Miami star and Uruguay forward Luis Suarez saved his country with a late goal in the final minutes of stoppage time to force a tie and a penalty shootout. Suárez also scored the game-winning penalty kick as Uruguay beat Canada 2–2 (4–3 on penalties) in the Copa America third-place match.
Canada finished Copa America 2024 in fourth place, but had a strong showing ahead of World Cup 2026.
