Colombia threatens Messi’s crown in a high-voltage duel

The emerging Colombian team, undefeated in 28 matches, will challenge Argentina this Sunday in the final of the Copa América in Miami. The champions want to complete a winning cycle with their second consecutive title, bid farewell to Angel di Maria with honours and crown Leo Messi once once more.

Argentina and Colombia look into the eyes of history at the Hard Rock Stadium. ‘La Scaloneta’, because it can make the Albiceleste the team with the most South American titles, break the 15-15 tie with Uruguay, and achieve a ‘treble’ that only Spain has (continental tournament-World Cup-continental tournament).

The Colombian tricolor, because it is eager to win its second Cup, twenty-three years later, and continue a streak that, for the moment, already surpasses the one established in 1994 by Pacho Maturana’s team.

Argentina has shown the class of the champion, who does not need to play well to win their matches. With Messi intermittently, Lionel Scaloni’s team has the best goalkeeper in the tournament, Emiliano Martínez, and a solid attack, in which both Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez have responded, with the coach alternating between them.

Colombian game

Colombia has shown a team-wide game. It has only conceded one more goal than Argentina (2) and has shared its 13 goals between eight players. But, above all, it has had the best James Rodriguez, reborn in the United States, with six assists and a level of play that has reminded us of the player who amazed the world ten years ago, in the World Cup in Brazil.

The Colombian team has also been on the tough side of the draw, which has forced it to leave Brazil and Uruguay behind, the latter with a brawl between fans and Uruguayan players, who got into a fight in the stands, the consequences of which are still being felt.

The final has been set ablaze in Miami by this episode, which has only served to fuel the rivalry between the Argentines and Colombians. The Albiceleste are keen to avenge Uruguay, with whose players they have a good rapport, and the Colombian national team is eager for revenge, following the semi-final three years ago was decided by a penalty shoot-out in which ‘Dibu’ Martínez drove the Colombian penalty-kickers crazy with his provocations.

Last Copa America

For Argentina, it is also the farewell to a generation that only touched glory at the last minute.

Angel di Maria is certain to leave the club, and will play his last match for the Albiceleste. Finally recognised as an indispensable part of his team’s success, ‘El Fideo’ is leaving cheered by the crowd and missed by his teammates, who have tried to reverse his decision since he announced his intentions in November, following beating Brazil in the qualifiers.

For Nicolás Otamendi and Leo Messi, it is not a definitive goodbye, because it seems certain that they will continue, but it is their last Copa América. The ‘general’, at 36 years old, has already had a residual role in Scaloni’s team. Messi, who has just turned 37, is only thinking regarding day to day life, with the 2026 World Cup still far away.

Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni is keeping an eye on the physical condition of Gonzalo Montiel, who missed training on Thursday due to ankle discomfort but returned to training a day later and might be a starter.

In Colombia, Néstor Lorenzo will have to replace Daniel Muñoz, the best right-back in the Cup, who was sent off once morest Uruguay and will probably be replaced by Santiago Arias. There is also concern regarding the condition of Richard Ríos, one of the revelations of the tournament, who ended the semi-final with discomfort.

Miami / EFE