Chaotic scenes reminiscent of the Euro 2020/1 final at Wembley caused over an hour delay to kick-off, but eventually the Copa Am�rica final did get underway, and the focus could turn to events on the pitch rather than off of it � for fans and players alike.
And while it wasn�t exactly high entertainment, there was drama aplenty, including Lionel Messi limping off with an ankle injury midway through the second half and �ngel Di Mar�a waving emotional goodbye as he was subbed off on his final international appearance. Only the aforementioned Messi and Javier Mascherano have worn the famous striped shirt more. (And only Messi, Batistuta, Ag�ero, Crespo, and Maradona have scored more.)
The man just behind Di Mar�a on that list, Lautaro Mart�nez would end up getting the game�s only goal, in the second half of extra-time.
Argentina�s campaign, despite their veritable plethora of attacking talent, was largely built on midfield control and defensive solidity, and that proved to be the case here as well. And when you have Argentina�s talent, you don�t need a million chances to score.
Enzo Fern�ndez started and played into extra-time before being part of a triple-change in the 97th minute, which brought Lautaro (and Giovani Lo Celso, who picked up the winning assist) into the mix.
Argentina have thus won back-to-back Copa Am�ricas, sandwiching a World Cup triumph as well. That�s how you golden a Golden Generation!
Colombia�s Jhon Corboba hit the bottom of the post with a speculative shot in the seventh minute but neither side were able to find their flow in the early stages.
Di Maria found Messi in the 20th minute with a low ball into the box and Messi�s left-foot shot was saved by Colombia keeper Camilo Vargas.
Colombia had looked the more lively in the opening period and they went close in the 33rd minute when Jefferson Lerma tried his luck from 25 yards out and his low drive forced Emiliano Martinez into a diving save.
There was concern for Messi in the 36th minute when he dribbled to the byline but was halted by a sliding challenge from Santiago Arias which was ruled fair left the Argentine captain needing treatment.
Messi, who now plays his club football in Miami, then curled a free-kick in from the left flank but Nicolas Tagliafico�s header was just off target.
It had been a disappointing first half and it didn�t improve much after the break, when the fans had at least received some entertainment from Colombian singer Shakira.
Argentina failed to deal with a James Rodriguez corner and the ball looped to Davinson Sanchez but he was unable to keep down his header which floated over the bar.
There was finally some of the expected quality when Di Maria produced one of his trademark runs in from the left and forced Vargas into action, the Colombia keeper turning the ball wide of the post.
Then came a major blow for Argentine hopes when Messi went down, without contact, as he ran in midfield, and clearly in pain he went off to be replaced by Nicolas Gonzalez in the 66th minute.
It was too much for Messi, in what may have been his last major tournament, as he sat in tears on the bench, unable to hold back his emotions.
The Argentine fans thought they had grabbed a winner in the 75th minute when Tagliafico found Gonzalez in the box, who beat Vargas with a low drive but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Little changed in extra-time with a half-chance from Miguel Borja after a flick from Jorge Carrascal but the game was settled by a worthy winner.
Leandro Paredes won the ball in midfield for Argentina with a perfectly timed tackle, found Giovani Lo Celso whose first time pass was perfect for the on-running Martinez who confidently fired home the winner.
