Lιоnel Messι’s teаrs cҺаngeԀ tо jоy оn MоnԀаy аs аrgentιnа ԀefeаteԀ Cоlоmbιа ιn tҺe 2024 Cоpа аmerιcа fιnаl tо wιn а recоrԀ 16tҺ cҺаmpιоnsҺιp. Ԁue tо аn аnkle ιnjury, Messι wаs fоrceԀ tо Ԁepаrt tҺe gаme ιn а tҺrιllιng fιnаl. TҺe stаnԀоut fоrwаrԀ ҺаԀ eаrlιer sustаιneԀ Ԁаmаge tо Һιs аnkle ιn tҺe fιrst Һаlf fоllоwιng а 36tҺ-mιnute clаsҺ wιtҺ Sаntιаgо аrιаs.

The 37-year-old, who was benched for what may have been his final Copa America game for Argentina, broke down in tears.

Se llaman lágrimas de lider, Pic.twitter.com/5XUSSYUVXg is where Leo is.

— Copa América ConmebOLTM️ (@CopaAmerica) 15 July 2024But in the 112th minute, Lautaro Martinez, a substitute, scored the game’s winning goal and the lone goal overall, giving him the last laugh.

— Copa América ConmebOLTM️ (@CopaAmerica) July 15, 2024 — In the 112th minute, Martinez, the top goalscorer in the 2024 Copa America, scored a goal that sent Argentina’s players and supporters into a frenzy as he fully used a sharp through pass from Giovani Lo Celso and blasted it past Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

In addition, should Messi choose to conclude his career as an international football player before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the game-winning goal might serve as the ideal farewell. And following the match, in a lavish award presentation, the Argentine icon celebrated his Copa victory in style by hoisting the trophy alongside his teammates.

FULL SCREEN 🏆 pic.twitter.com/vjZaBc1ssB

— Copa América ConmebOLTM️ (@CopaAmerica) 15 July 2024In addition, Argentina’s victory at the 2022 World Cup and 2021 Copa America marked their third consecutive major tournament success.

The Copa America final triumph also put a stop to Colombia’s 28-game winning streak; they had previously suffered a setback in February 2022, again against “La Albiceleste.”