They lost Lionel Messi to injury, then super-sub Lautaro Martínez won the Copa America final in extra-time for a third straight major tournament title while Colombia’s record unbeaten run came to an end. Check out the best facts and data with our Argentina vs Colombia stats page.

Lautaro Martínez struck an extra-time winner as Argentina edged out Colombia 1-0 to win their second successive Copa America title, despite losing Lionel Messi to injury.

The Inter forward climbed off the bench to break Los Cafeteros’ hearts in the 112th minute in Miami, where kick-off had been delayed for 82 minutes due to crowd disruption outside the stadium. 

La Albiceleste headed into extra-time without Messi, who left the field in tears in the 66th minute after sustaining an ankle injury.

Nevertheless, Martínez stepped up in his skipper’s absence, slotting past Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas to deliver his nation’s record-breaking 16th Copa triumph.

Both sides demonstrated their attacking intent early on. Julián Álvarez fired wide inside the opening 60 seconds, while Jhon Córdoba’s volley clipped the outside of the post six minutes later.

Emiliano Martínez held onto a Carlos Cuesta header and, at the other end, Álvarez inadvertently took the sting out of Lionel Messi’s goal-bound effort on 20 minutes.

As the final remained in the balance, Jefferson Lerma fired narrowly wide from distance, while Nicolás Tagliafico headed over from a Messi free-kick just before the break.

Colombia created the better opportunities in the early stages of the second half. Santiago Arias drilled wide and Davinson Sánchez headed over from a James Rodríguez corner.

At the other end, Vargas pushed away Ángel Di María’s effort from a tight angle, before a distraught Messi was forced off injured as the game headed into the final quarter.

Messi’s replacement Nicolás González thought he had broken the deadlock in the 75th minute, but Argentina were denied by the offside flag as the game headed for extra-time.

González went close again five minutes into the first period, with Vargas scrambling across to thwart him on the line.

A penalty shootout loomed but, with eight minutes remaining, two Argentina substitutes combined with Giovani Lo Celso feeding Lautaro Martínez, whose composed finish snatched the Copa from under Colombia’s noses.

Super-Sub Lautaro Seals Argentina’s Successful Title Defence

Having scored from the bench in Argentina’s opening two Group A games against Canada and Chile, Lautaro Martínez chose an ideal moment to complete a hat-trick of such strikes in this tournament.

Combining with fellow substitute Lo Celso, the Inter forward netted his fifth goal in the United States to secure the Golden Boot award.

La Albiceleste needed a hero after Messi limped off on a bittersweet night for the skipper.

The first player to feature in five Copa America finals, at 37 years and 20 days, he was also the oldest player to start one in the 21st century.

However, there was to be no match-winning contribution this time in a tournament at which he has been plagued by niggling injuries.

Messi’s international future is uncertain but teammates Di María and Nicolás Otamendi – both of whom donned the captain’s armband following his withdrawal – sign off with another major international honour under their belts.

Courageous Colombia Come Up Short

While Argentina captured their 16th Copa, Colombia were seeking just the second in their history.

Los Cafeteros claimed their sole triumph on home soil in 2001, notably recording three successive clean sheets in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

It looked like Néstor Lorenzo’s current crop of players could follow suit 23 years later, as they more than held their own with the reigning Copa and world champions.

But La Albiceleste – the last team to beat them before they embarked on their record-breaking 28-match unbeaten run – proved their nemesis once more, with Lautaro Martínez’s strike breaking that streak, and breaking their hearts.

Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Argentina vs Colombia stats from the 2024 Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own post-match analysis.

Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well. 

Argentina vs Colombia: Post-Match Facts

  • Among the teams that played at least five matches in an edition of the CONMEBOL Copa America, only four conceded fewer than two goals: Argentina in 2024 (1), Colombia in 2001 (0), Brazil in 1989 (1) and 2019 (1).
  • Argentina won their 16th Copa America title, surpassing Uruguay as the tournament’s winningest team. The last time La Albiceleste had more titles than any other team was in 1993, when they won their 14th Cup and Uruguay had 13.
  • At 37 years and 20 days old, Lionel Messi is the oldest player to start a Copa America final in the 21st century. Furthermore, he became the first player to play in five finals (2007, 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2024), surpassing Javier Mascherano (2004, 2007, 2015 and 2016).
  • Lionel Messi had not been substituted in a Copa America match since July 2007, also in a match against Colombia. It was the third time that the Argentine was subbed off in the competition, alongside another game from the 2007 edition against the United States.
  • Lautaro Martínez’s goal was the fourth that was scored in extra-time of a Copa America final, after 1919 (Friedenreich for Brazil against Uruguay) and 1937 (two from Vicente de la Mata for Argentina against Brazil).
  • Argentina has won consecutive Copa America titles (2021 and 2024), continuing the pattern that began in 1983, which consists of alternating two-time champions and new winners.
  • Giovani Lo Celso has assisted 14 goals for Argentina in all competitions in the Lionel Scaloni era, the second-most for an Albiceleste player under the current coach, only behind Lionel Messi (16).
  • Lautaro Martínez recorded the most goals (5) for an Argentina player in a single edition of the Copa America in the 21st century, equalling Lionel Messi in 2016 and Juan Román Riquelme in 2007.
  • Argentina had less possession than their opponent for the first time since the semi-finals against Croatia in the 2022 World Cup: 44.3% today against Colombia and 39.2% on that occasion.
  • Emiliano Martínez registered five catches in the victory against Colombia, the most for a goalkeeper in a final in the last 10 editions of the Copa América. Furthermore, the Argentine had four saves tonight and is the first Albiceleste goalkeeper to register five clean sheets in a single edition of the tournament.

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