Argentina claimed its third straight major title with an extra-time victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday, as a tearful Lionel Messi likely said goodbye to international soccer in a Copa América final delayed by crowd trouble.
Forward Lautaro Martinez, who came on as a substitute, hit the winner deep into extra time to claim a 1-0 victory for the world champions that ended Colombia’s 28-match unbeaten run and brought Argentina a record 16th Copa América crown.
It came after a hard-fought game that saw Argentina captain Messi, 37, substituted in the second half with an apparent ankle injury in what is likely to be his last game at a major international tournament.
The soccer legend was visibly emotional as he watched the game unfold from the bench while nursing his swollen right ankle.
But the tears turned to cheers at the final whistle, when a hobbling Messi embraced his teammates and coaches with a huge smile before lifting the trophy as jubilant Argentine fans serenaded the champions.
“Leo is the greatest player in history. He never wants to leave the pitch. He has a swollen ankle, and he wants to keep on playing,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said after the game.
“I prefer those players and his teammates to see that he is 30-something years old, he’s there, and he wants to contribute. He wants to play, not because he is egotistical or selfish.
“He wants to continue playing because he doesn’t want to abandon his teammates. He doesn’t want to leave them on the pitch, even when he’s in that condition … He doesn’t feel well when he has to leave, and he was born to be on the pitch.”
A stadium spokesperson said that “thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium,” delaying kick-off at the sold-out 65,300-capacity Hard Rock Stadium for more than an hour.
Photos and video from outside the stadium showed massive overcrowding, with visibly distressed women and children among the thousands of fans stuck outside the gates. At least one photo showed fans falling on top of each other over an overturned crush barrier.
Video from the stadium showed some fans climbing the stadium walls in an attempt to gain entry.
It’s unclear if any fans or security personnel suffered injuries.
The gates were later reopened “for a short period of time to all fans in order to prevent stampedes and serious injuries at the perimeter,” the stadium spokesperson said in an update.
“There was serious concern about fans being crushed in an attempt to enter. Law enforcement and security personnel were immediately deployed throughout the stadium and surrounding area to keep fans as safe as possible in light of this unprecedented situation,” the update said.
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