Messi Looks To Lead Argentina To Record 16th Copa America Title In Duel With Colombia

Miami Gardens, Florida  Lionel Messi is one win away from leading Argentina to a record 16th Copa America triumph. Colombia will do everything it can to prevent that in a decisive matchup between the juggernaut and the ascending force.

It will take place on Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium, hosting two group-stage matches and seven games during the 2026 World Cup.

Ahead of the match, both teams cited safety concerns when Uruguay’s Darwin Núñez and a few teammates climbed into the stands amid a physical confrontation between fans at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, following Uruguay’s semifinal victory over Colombia.

Messi Looks To Lead Argentina To Record 16th Copa America Title In Duel With Colombia

Uruguay captain José Giménez stated that players walked into the crowd to defend their families, while coach Marcelo Bielsa strongly criticized tournament management for not doing enough to protect players’ families in the stands behind the Uruguay bench.

“I’m concerned about what could happen tomorrow,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters through an interpreter. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said it “would be great if we could reinforce security.”

CONMEBOL stated in a press release that “any action that tarnishes a global football celebration will not be tolerated.”

Argentina, who won the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, can join Spain from 2008 to 2012 as the only country to win three consecutive major titles. The Albiceleste advanced to Sunday’s final despite the 37-year-old Messi’s lack of dominance due to a leg ailment.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sped past defenders and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates, but he did not score until redirecting Enzo Fernández’s shot past Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau to help Argentina win 2-0 in the semifinals.

Ahead of the final, Messi stated that he has experienced difficulty throughout the tournament but that it will not slow him down on Sunday.

“In the final, I’m going to feel better,” he stated in an interview with DSports.

Colombia will compete in its first Copa America championship in 23 years, extending its unbeaten streak to a team record of 28 games, one more than in 1992-94 and the longest current stretch in men’s international soccer.

James Rodríguez has been perhaps the finest player in the competition. He leads the tournament with six assists, the most in a single Copa America since data collection began in 2011, surpassing Messi’s five in 2021.

“James has had a great Copa America,” Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo stated through an interpreter. “We are fortunate to have him at a very high level. He has received encouragement from his teammates. I can only hope that he performs well tomorrow.”

Lorenzo complimented his team’s collective effort in reaching this point, which includes an emotional triumph over 15-time champion Uruguay, and thanked Colombian supporters for their support—Colombia’s matches, like Argentina’s, have been among the most attended.

Messi Looks To Lead Argentina To Record 16th Copa America Title In Duel With Colombia

But Lorenzo emphasized that this should be the norm for the resurgent club, which won its sole Copa America title at home in 2001.

“We’d love it if it wouldn’t be such a surprise to get to a final, so unexpected,” he told me. “We want to be always on top. It is not easy. Let’s hope this lasts. Let’s hope we can keep going.

Argentina won the 2021 semifinal 3-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie. Colombia last defeated Argentina in the Copa América group stage in 2019.

“We’re going to play our game,” Scaloni declared. “You always have a plan, but the final is always a stressful game, and the one who is under the least stress will win.”

SOURCE | AP