Lionel Messi Aims to Lead Argentina to Record 16th Copa America Title in Showdown with Colombia
Standing in their way is a formidable Colombia, determined to thwart Argentina's quest for glory in the final showdown.
The highly anticipated match will take place on Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium, a venue that will also host games during the 2026 World Cup.
In the lead-up to the final, safety concerns have been raised following an incident involving Uruguay's Darwin Núñez and his teammates, who entered the stands amidst a physical altercation between fans at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The brawl occurred after Uruguay's semifinal win over Colombia, prompting Uruguay captain José Giménez to step in to protect their families. Coach Marcelo Bielsa criticized the tournament organizers for insufficient security measures for players' families.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni echoed these concerns, stating through an interpreter, "I’m concerned about what could happen tomorrow." Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez added that reinforcing security would be beneficial. CONMEBOL has since stated that "any action that tarnishes a global football celebration will not be tolerated."
Argentina, champions of the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, have the chance to join Spain (2008-12) as the only countries to win three consecutive major championships. Despite battling a leg injury, Messi, now 37, has been instrumental in Argentina's journey to the final, scoring a goal by deflecting Enzo Fernández’s shot past Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau to secure a 2-0 win in the semifinal.
Messi assured fans that he will be fit for the final, stating in an interview with DSports, "In the final, I’m going to feel better."
Colombia, on the other hand, is playing in its first Copa America championship in 23 years and boasts an unbeaten streak of 28 games, the longest current streak in men’s international soccer. James Rodríguez has been a standout player, leading the tournament with six assists, surpassing Messi’s five in 2021.
"James has had a great Copa America," Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo said. "We are lucky enough to have him at a very good level. The team has supported him... I can only hope that tomorrow his performance will be great."
Lorenzo commended his team's collective effort, which included a victory over 15-time champion Uruguay, and expressed gratitude for the support from Colombian fans. He emphasized the desire for Colombia to remain a top contender, saying, "We’d love it if it wouldn’t be such a surprise to get to a final, so unexpected. We’d like to be always on top. It’s not easy... Let’s hope this can last. Let’s hope we can keep on going."
The two sides last met in the 2021 semifinal, with Argentina winning 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Colombia last triumphed over Argentina in the Copa America group stage in 2019.
"We are going to play our game," Scaloni said. "You always have a plan, but the final is always a stressful game, and the one who is under the least stress will win."
As Messi aims to lead Argentina to another historic title, fans around the world eagerly anticipate what promises to be an exhilarating final.
SportsLigue