MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia was in the second half when star player Lionel Messi left the game with a right foot injury.
Score: Argentina 0, Colombia 0.
Messi was sent off in the 64th minute, unable to take part in Argentina’s historic winning streak to repeat with a title win, and was seen crying on the sidelines after being sent off.
Messi, who injured his right ankle in the first half and was brought on in the second half, chased the ball before it went out and tried to kick it, but when Messi stepped on his right foot, his left foot kick bent in an unnatural position.
Messi grimaced in pain and rolled repeatedly onto the field to be examined by trainers. He eventually got up and walked off unaided, but was visibly limping. He eventually returned to the pitch and stayed in the match for the early minutes of the first half.
The Argentina vs. Colombia match did not start until 9:22 PM ET, well after the original kickoff time of 8 PM. The match was postponed after fans without tickets broke through security gates at around 6 PM, leaving fans held outside the stadium before the match.
Messi’s Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, are hoping to make history by winning the Copa America for the second consecutive year.
Colombia enters the final on a 28-match unbeaten run and will be looking to win their second Copa America final and avenge their last loss to Argentina in February 2022.
Follow us here USA Today Sports We’ll provide live updates from Sunday night’s game in Miami.
Nicolas Gonzalez’s header was Argentina’s closest goal: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
A brilliant run of goals from Argentina, including this one from Nicolas Gonzalez, just needed to be finished.
Argentina’s goal disallowed for offside: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Nicolas Tagliafico was caught offside on a shot close to Argentina’s goal.
Messi in tears on the sidelines after Copa America final defeat: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
It’s a sad scene of Messi crying on the sidelines after being sent off.
Lionel Messi loses in Copa America final: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Messi fell and immediately called for help from a trainer, after which he appeared to be trying to sprint but ended up tripping.
In the 65th minute of the Copa America final, the captain’s band was removed, his right boot was removed and he slowly, emotionally, walked off the pitch.
Messi was seen crying on the sidelines, covering his face.
Ángel Di María misses his shot on goal: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Angel Di Maria, playing his final game for Argentina, came close to scoring another big goal in a crucial match, but it was to no avail.
Santiago Arias misses a chance to start the second half: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Colombia had chances early in the second half but were unable to capitalise.
Messi injury update: returned after half-time, Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Messi, who had injured his right ankle, returned to the game at the start of the second half.
Nicolas Tagliafico misses a header after Messi’s corner kick: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Messi was in good form and took a superb corner, but just before half-time Nicolas Tagliafico’s header flew high into the back of the net.
Messi appears to have injured his right ankle but remains in the match: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Lionel Messi appears to have suffered a right ankle injury during the first half of the Copa America final.
Messi chased down the ball before it went out of bounds, planting his right foot but bending it into an unnatural position before taking the kick. He grimaced in pain and rolled repeatedly across the field to be checked by trainers.
Messi eventually got up and left the field under his own steam, but was visibly limping. He eventually returned to the pitch and continued playing.
The injury occurred at age 36.Number One minute into the first half, the score remained scoreless.
Jefferson Lerma misses his shot on goal: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Colombia’s Jefferson Lerma found space and fired a shot at goal that went just wide left of the goalpost and off the outstretched hand of Argentina goalkeeper Dyb Martinez.
Lionel Messi misses his shot on goal: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Lionel Messi had a chance and shot, but it was deflected by Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez just before the 20th minute.
John Cordoba misses his shot on goal: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
This shot from John Cordova of Colombia almost gave them an early lead. It was a close call.
Luis Diaz misses Colombia’s first shot: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Angel Di Maria pays tribute ahead of final against Argentina
Before the final match against Argentina, Angel Di Maria’s daughters presented him with the match ball before the match.
Julián Alvarez misses an early touch: Argentina 0, Colombia 0
Messi looks ready for Copa America final: here’s the latest
Now, the stadium is full, music is filling up the delay, and the players are being introduced to the crowd.
Lionel Messi scored this free kick during the pre-match warm-up.
Kick-off postponed: What time will the Copa America final start?
how’s it going Fans entering Hard Rock Stadium The match was postponed for 30 minutes.
Kickoff is scheduled for 9:15 pm ET.
Hard Rock Stadium allows fans in, some without tickets
At approximately 8:11 p.m., police retreated and the gates were opened, allowing fans with and without their tickets scanned to enter the stadium to watch the Copa America final.
Fans who don’t have tickets for Sunday’s Copa America final He climbed the fence and slipped past the guards. More than an hour before the Argentina vs. Colombia match at Hard Rock Stadium.
USA TODAY Sports saw at least seven people being treated by Miami-Dade Firefighters near the stadium’s entrance. People appeared to be in pain, with red faces, and were given bottles of water while sitting on the ground or along a low wall.
Argentina and Colombia starting lineups
President Biden to speak about Trump assassination attempt before Copa America
President Joe Biden is scheduled to address the nation just before the Copa America final, which will be broadcast on FS1 at 8 p.m.
The game will continue on FOX after Biden’s speech. Announced by FOX Sports.
Spain wins Euro 2024, who will play in the knockout stages in 2025?
Spain won Euro 2024 with a 2-1 victory over England. The team will play in the early hours of Sunday and could face the winner of the Copa America 2024 in the summer of 2025. The date and venue have yet to be decided.
The last finalissima played between Copa and Euro champions was in 2022, when Argentina beat Italy.
How to watch Argentina vs Colombia Copa America final on TV
The Argentina vs. Colombia match will be broadcast in English on FOX and in Spanish on Univision.
How to watch: Watch every Copa America match with a fuboTV subscription
How to live stream the Copa America match between Argentina and Colombia
The live stream will be available on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app in English, and on TUDN in Spanish.
Will Messi play in tonight’s Copa America final?
Yes, Messi will play, making his ninth appearance for Argentina in tonight’s final.
What awaits Argentina in the Copa America final?
Messi and Argentina may be putting the finishing touches on one of the greatest dynasties in football history.
Another win in tonight’s Copa America would mark Argentina’s fourth major international championship in three years.
Argentina won the Copa America in 2021. Two summers ago they beat Euro 2021 champions Italy in the 2022 Finalissima. Argentina won the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
What awaits Colombia in the Copa America final?
Colombia did not qualify for the Qatar World Cup, so this Copa America was an important experience for the team and the country.
Colombia is hoping to win its second Copa America title (2001) and will be appearing in its third Copa America final (1975, 2001).
Argentina vs Colombia, Copa America final predictions
Argentina 2, Colombia 1: James Rodriguez may score from set pieces, but Argentina, like every team, will rely on veterans to deliver and goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria to win this title. Sorry to our Colombian friends, but the Argentine dynasty will not end tonight. Safid Dean, Lionel Messi reporter.
Argentina vs Colombia Copa America Final betting odds
Argentina are given +110 chances to win the match after 90 minutes, +190 for a draw and +320 for Colombia to win. According to BETMGMArgentina is rated -190 to win, while Colombia is +138.
How long is Colombia’s unbeaten record?
Colombia is unbeaten in its last 28 matches, its last defeat coming on Feb. 1, 2022, when it lost 1-0 to Argentina in an Olympic qualifier.
Argentina’s record over the past three years
Argentina has lost just three of their last 63 matches. Their last three losses came against Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semi-final, Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup and Uruguay in an Olympic qualifier last November.
Will this be Messi’s last game for Argentina?
The 37-year-old Inter Miami star in Major League Soccer may play his final major tournament match for Argentina in the Copa America final. Messi remains open to playing in the 2026 World Cup, depending on his health and desire to continue playing, but if he changes his mind, the match could be his final major tournament appearance.
Tonight’s match will be the final in an Argentina shirt for Angel Di Maria, the big-game scorer who took the international burden off Messi during the club’s recent winning streak.
When will Messi retire? What he said about retirement
Messi, 37, Participating in the 2026 World CupHere’s what he said earlier this year: When he might retire.
Photo of Messi holding Ramin Yamal’s baby goes viral
It feels surreal to imagine Messi posing for a photograph with 17-year-old Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal when he was just a baby. The story behind the photo of Messi and Yamal that went viral.
Uruguay vs Canada, Copa America third place match result
Inter Miami star and Uruguay’s top scorer Luis Suarez saved Uruguay with a goal in the final minutes of added time to tie the game and send the game to penalties. Suarez also scored the game-winning penalty to help Uruguay win the match. Uruguay defeats Canada 2-2 (4-3 on penalties) In the third place match of the Copa America.
Canada finished fourth in the 2024 Copa America but has a strong record ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
