MIAMI, FL — At one point four years ago, Lionel Messi was staring down the barrel of football’s most dreaded label: “Greatest player to never win a major international title.”
Now, the 37-year-old will go for his third straight as Argentina take on Colombia in the 2024 Copa America final.
Messi and Co. won the 2021 Copa America crown and then took home the World Cup title the next year. A third straight major title with Argentina will seal an already legendary legacy as one of the most glittering careers ever compiled in the sport’s illustrious history.
Argentina are also hoping to break a deadlock for most Copa America titles in CONMEBOL, even with Uruguay on 15. Colombia, meanwhile, go in search of just their second-ever Copa America crown, while international hero James Rodriguez makes one last push to achieve South American immortality.
The Sporting News is live on-site in Miami following Argentina vs. Colombia, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
LIVE UPDATES: The latest on fans breaching Hard Rock Stadium gates causing kickoff delay of Copa America final
2024 Copa America final live score
Score (ET)Goal scorersArgentina0 Colombia0
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)
Referee: Raphael Claus (BRA)
Starting lineups:
Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 4. Montiel (Molina, 72′), 13. Romero, 25. Li. Martinez, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 24. E. Fernandez (Paredes, 96′), 20. Mac Allister (Lo Celso, 96′) — 11. Di Maria, 10. Messi (N. Gonzalez, 66′), 9. Alvarez (La. Martinez, 96′).
Colombia (4-2-3-1, right to left): 12. Vargas (GK) — 4. S. Arias, 23. Sanchez, 2. Cuesta, 17. Mojica — 6. Rios (Castano, 88′), 16. Lerma — 11. J. Arias, 10. J. Rodriguez (Quintero, 91′), 7. L. Diaz — 24. Cordoba (Borre, 88′).
MORE: Updates of the pitch condition at Hard Rock Stadium for the 2024 Copa America final
Argentina vs. Colombia live updates, highlights from 2024 Copa America final
95th min: Chance, Argentina! The defending champoins nearly go in front but Claudio Vargas saves the day! A cross by Rodrigo De Paul comes to Nico Gonzalez, and he redirects it on frame, but the Colombia goalkeeper makes a snap reaction to get down and save the chance! Wonderful goalkeeping!
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Watch in Canada
After, Argentina make a triple change. Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Enzo Fernandez come off and are replaced by Lautaro Martinez, Giovanni Lo Celso, and Leandro Paredes.
Kickoff of extra time: They’re under way for 30 more minutes as James Rodriguez is brought off for Colombia, replaced by Juan Quintero. Neither he nor Lionel Messi will decide the winner of the 2024 Copa America.
They showed Messi’s ankle on the television broadcast, and it’s incredibly swollen. It would appear that his withdrawal just after the hour mark was likely from his coming-together with Santiago Arias just before halftime, and not any muscle problem.
Messi’s ankle 😳 pic.twitter.com/fdRxGID1Vx
— Caesars Sportsbook & Casino (@CaesarsSports) July 15, 2024
END OF REGULATION: To extra time we go! Neither side could find a breakthrough, so we will have 30 minutes of extra time. The 2024 Copa America did away with extra time for all matches except the final, so we will have another 30 minutes for this match before a potential shootout.
90+3 min: Chance, Argentina! Colombia are hanging on for dear life towards the end! Nico Gonzalez gets onto a bouncing ball after an Argentina corner, and leg whips it over the crossbar from the penalty spot!
88th min: Chance, Argentina! As the game winds down, Argentina have looked to take the sting out of the match, slowing things down to a crawl, but they still manage to create a chance as a floated ball to the back post is met by the head of Nico Gonzalez and he nods it across the face of goal, but it’s just out of reach of a trailing teammate!
Colombia make a double change, as Richard Rios, who’s been exceptional tonight, is brought off alongside Jhon Cordoba. In their place comes Kevin Castano and Rafael Borre. Humorously, Rios literally disrobes on the pitch, tossing his shin guards onto the playing surface where they remain as play continues.
Four minutes of stoppage time are shown.
80th min: Oh no! Nico Gonzalez, who has been excellent since coming on for an injured Messi, is in on goal and has just one defender to beat in the penalty area, but slips while making a move and can’t find a way in!
75th min: Chance, Argentina! THE BALL IS IN THE BACK OF THE NET BUT THE FLAG IS UP FOR OFFSIDE! Nicolas Tagliafico is indeed straying over the line as he receives a vertical ball and delivers a cutback to Nico Gonzalez the man who came on for Lionel Messi, and the goal won’t count!
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Watch in Canada
72nd min: There’s a big penalty shout as Jhon Cordoba goes down in the penalty area under a physical challenge by Alexis Mac Allister. The Colombian striker was tracking back to collect a cutback from the end line, but was cleaned out by the Argentina midfielder. VAR has a long look at it, but Mac Allister got enough of the ball and they play on.
During the stoppage, Gonzalo Montiel goes off injured, replaced by Nahuel Molina.
65th min: Lionel Messi is down off the ball, and looks in real pain. This was a non-contact injury, and muscle injuries are something he’s dealt with for a long time now.
He’s subbed off, and on comes Nico Gonzalez. Messi is in tears on the touchline as he walks off without one of his shoes. Incredibly deflating for Argentina, and Messi looks visibly emotional on the bench as the waterworks are in full gear.
Lionel Messi was emotional after subbing off with an injury in the Copa América final 💔 pic.twitter.com/K0sM2oXwCW
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 15, 2024
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Watch in Canada
62nd min: Alexis Mac Allister is booked for a late tackle on James Rodriguez, which sends Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni into a frenzy. He’s been all over the officials this entire half.
58th min: Argentina have a long spell of possession, with a number of good scoring chances turned away by Colombian defending. A headed shot by Alexis Mac Allister hits the arm of Jefferson Lerma but it’s in a very natural position so nothing is given.
Argentina win a corner at the end of the spell, but it’s cleared away.
54th min: Chance, Colombia! Davinson Sanchez heads over the crossbar! Colombia have a corner that’s swung in to the far post, and the ball is headed back perfectly into the middle where Sanchez rises high to meet it from no more than six yards out, but he blazes the ball over the woodwork! That has to be a goal!
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA
50th min: Somehow Gonzalo Montiel gets away with flinging his whole arm into the throat of Luis Diaz. No yellow card for the Argentina right-back.
47th min: Chance, Colombia! Santiago Arias fires a volleyed effort wide left! He’s been fantastic in place of the suspended Daniel Munoz, and a Jhon Cordoba header is flicked right to his feet and he whips a venomous effort across the face of goal.
2nd half kickoff: They’re back under way for the second half in Miami after the extended halftime, which definitely felt like it was cut short.
Lionel Messi is on the field to begin the half for Argentina, which is notable after his injury late in the first half.
HALFTIME: Argentina 0-0 Colombia
A largely uneventful first half comes and goes at Hard Rock Stadium. Both sides had a few looks on net, but there wasn’t much else to speak of. Colombia started bright before Argentina tried to take the sting out of possession. Jefferson Lerma’s long-distance effort which Emi Martinez saved is by far the biggest chance of the half.
It will be worth watching how Lionel Messi looks coming out of halftime after his injury towards the end of the 45 minutes. Now it’s time for Shakira’s halftime show, which will see the break be an extended 25 minutes.
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 15, 2024
44th min: Chance, Argentina! Santiago Arias is harshly booked for a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge, giving Argentina a dangerous free-kick about 12 yards out top the left corner of the penalty area. It’s swung in by Lionel Messi and meets the head of Nicolas Tagliafico, but he heads it just over the crossbar!
Only one minute of stoppage time is shown, which is laughable since Lisandro Martinez and Lionel Messi each had treatment which took longer than that.
35th min: Lionel Messi is down in a heap on the end line holding his ankle. Replay shows he reached for a wayward ball and on the follow through was cleated by Santiago Arias. It didn’t look that bad in all honesty, but Messi is lying on his back with his hand over his face as he receives medical treatment.
You could hear a pin drop in Hard Rock Stadium as the training staff sprays his ankle with the cold spray.
He gets up and walks very gingerly down the touchline but comes back onto the field.
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Watch in Canada
33rd min: Chance, Colombia! What an effort by Jefferson Lerma! He fires a long-distance missile that’s seeking the inside of the left post, and forces Emi Martinez to make a fingertip save! What a stop by the Argentina goalkeeper!
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Watch in Canada
27th min: The crowd explodes as Richard Rios absolutely COOKS a defender on the right flank and fizzles a cross into the penalty area, but it’s cleared by Lisandro Martinez. The Man United defender is then cleaned out by Jhon Cordoba who was sliding to meet the cross, and needs medical treatment.
Cordoba is deservingly booked for the very late studs-up challenge.
20th min: Chance, Argentina! a vicious cross from the left by Angel Di Maria is fired laterally to Lionel Messi who is all alone at the penalty spot trailing the play, but his first-time shot doesn’t have the height to get through the trees and is deflected right into the goalkeeper’s arms.
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Watch in Canada
16th min: It’s starting to get very physical now. Jhon Arias is bulldozed from behind and no foul is called, with the Brazilian referee indicating that the ball was won.
12th min: Chance, Colombia! Los Cafeteros are gaining a firm control over the match, and have Argentina on their heels. A corner comes in from the right and there’s a scrum right in front of goal, but somehow the ball squeaks over the end line for a goal kick!
There’s whistles from the pro-Colombia crowd as Argentina regains possession, and then big cheers as they cough it up in midfield.
7th min: Chance, Colombia! So close to a glittering goal by Jhon Cordoba! The Colombian striker gets a header from Santiago Arias and tries to contort his body for an acrobatic flicked finish not too different from a bicycle kick, but he puts it just wide left, maybe with a touch off the post!
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA | Watch in Canada
3rd min: This has been a fast start to the match. Both teams seem intent to get forward. Julian Alvarez took aim in the first minute but scuffed his shot well wide. An Argentina corner delivered by Messi is cleared by Colombia.
KICKOFF: After a delay of over an hour and 20 minutes, they’re finally ready to kick off at Hard Rock Stadium. There has been a number of disturbing reports and videos released on social media regarding the fan situation at the venue, and we hope everyone stays safe.
Argentina vs. Colombia: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
9 p.m. local: With so many unticketed fans inside Hard Rock Stadium, the concourses are apparently gridlocked. Hope everyone stays safe. This match will begin in 15 minutes, as players continue to warm up on the pitch.
A look inside the situation at Hard Rock Stadium on the Suite Level.
Expected kickoff is still set for 8:45pm ET. pic.twitter.com/o95chh9pGq
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 15, 2024
UPDATE: Another delay to kickoff has been officially announced, as the match will now begin at 9:15 p.m. ET. Our guess is, given the players are warming up, that this will probably be the last delay.
8:40 p.m. local: No update on the status of kickoff has been given, but the players are out onto the pitch to warm up. This game almost surely won’t start at the announced 8:45 p.m. ET, but it should get under way soon. The stadium is now 100% full, and who knows how many unticketed fans are inside. Hopefully it won’t have an impact on the crowd and everyone stays safe.
Players out to warm up now. Probably not starting at 8:45 but hopefully soon. pic.twitter.com/0P5Pi1OawF
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 15, 2024
KICKOFF DELAYED AGAIN: The match has been delayed by another 15 minutes, with kickoff now moved to 8:45 p.m. ET. The stadium is filling with fans, but at a very slow rate.
The Hard Rock Stadium official account has shared that the match will be delayed “until further notice” which isn’t encouraging.
Statement from a Hard Rock Stadium Spokesperson pic.twitter.com/fWFDq7ggS8
— Hard Rock Stadium (@HardRockStadium) July 14, 2024
8 p.m. local: With 30 minutes to go until the latest stated kickoff time, the scene outside Hard Rock Stadium is chaos. As a result, there’s hardly anyone in their seats inside the venue.
Kickoff was supposed to be right now. This is what it looks like in Hard Rock Stadium. Maybe 30-40% of seats filled. pic.twitter.com/RXd96V70Fl
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
KICKOFF DELAYED: The start of the 2024 Copa America final has been delayed 30 minutes due to the trouble outside the Hard Rock Stadium gates. Kickoff will now take place at 8:30 p.m. ET in Miami, as of now.
45 mins to kickoff: The situation at the gates has caused a huge problem for fans entering the stadium. With less than an hour to go before the start of a major international final, the stadium is quite empty compared to what you’d expect. This is almost surely due to the gate closures, but it does seem that fans have still been able to make their way inside via other entrances.
Teams out for warmups prior to the 2024 #CopaAmerica final. pic.twitter.com/GGbnffelp1
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
1 hour before kickoff: There has been major breaking news at the gates of Hard Rock Stadium, which were breached by fans who stormed through past police and security. The situation is now under control, but the southwest gates are largely closed, with just one open door for fans to pass through, creating a massive backlog in the Miami heat.
The Sporting News was on site and recorded video of the incident.
BREAKING: The gates at Hard Rock Stadium have been breached and scores of fans have begun streaming in for the 2024 #CopaAmerica final. Police are scrambling to try and stem the flow of people. pic.twitter.com/fkoMMYGk8K
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
1 hour 15 minutes before kickoff: The starting lineups for tonight’s championship final have been revealed. No major changes for La Albiceleste, while Los Cafeteros will see Santiago Arias take Daniel Munoz’s place at right back.
1 hour 30 mins before kickoff: At 33 years old, James Rodriguez has burst back onto the scene at a major international tournament. It’s been 10 years since his brilliance at the 2014 World Cup, a performance that earned him a sensational move to Real Madrid. Since, he’s wandered looking for club consistency and failing to find it. Yet this summer he’s exploded back to life, setting the Copa America record for assists at a tournament with six — in a competition bereft of goal scoring where nobody else has more than two. “Argentina is an opponent that has the experience, but we are hungry and that is the most important thing,” Rodriguez said before the final. Click here to read all about the revival of James Rodriguez has been, quite simply, tons of fun.
1 hour 45 mins before kickoff: The Sporting News has been following the 2024 Copa America all tournament long, and we put together our Best XI from the entire competition. What do you think of this lineup? Do you feel anyone was snubbed? Lionel Messi misses out having underwhelmed this summer, even as Argentina have reached the final.
2024 Copa America Best XI (4-3-3): Emiliano Martinez (GK) — Jon Aramburu, Cristian Romero, Davinson Sanchez, Antonee Robinson — Stephen Eustaquio, James Rodriguez, Manuel Ugarte — Salomon Rondon, Lautaro Martinez, Luis Diaz.
Click here to see a breakdown of each player in the Sporting News Team of the Tournament for the 2024 Copa America.
2 hours before kickoff: Colombia head coach Nestor Lorenzo is Argentine, and naturally, he and Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni go way back. Lorenzo was an assistant coach with the Argentina national team in 2006 when Lionel Scaloni went on loan for a short time at Premier League club West Ham. The two met up and had lunch in London, a memory which Lorenzo keeps with him today, drawing on humorously in yesterday’s pre-match press conference.
Lorenzo went on to say that he has a good relationship with Scaloni, but that the situation right now is “awkward” between them because of their positions as rival head coaches. “I love him,” Lorenzo said, “but this is a special time for me and my country, and I’m sure that we will talk to one another again after the match.”
Colombia head coach Nestor Lorenzo told a very funny story about his friendship with fellow Argentine Lionel Scaloni.
They went to eat in London when Scaloni was on loan with West Ham in 2006. Lorenzo says he reminded Scaloni recently that they ate at a COLOMBIAN restaurant 😂
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 13, 2024
2 hours 30 mins before kickoff: Tonight is Angel Di Maria’s final match with Argentina before he retires from national team duty. Once a heavily criticized player, he is now considered a legend of the nation for his recent performances in big matches.
Yet Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni won’t alter his approach to the starting XI to force Di Maria into the lineup if he doesn’t feel it suits the match.
“We have always defined the lineup based on the game,” Scaloni said in his pre-match press conference. “Ecuador could have been his last match, and he didn’t start the game. Right or wrong we thought it was better for him not to play, and it went ok, and then he played in the semifinal. It will always be a decision made on the best interest of the team. If he plays it is because we decide he needs to play, and if he does not it’s because we see the match differently.”
3 hours before kickoff: Halftime of tonight’s match will be longer than usual, running 25 minutes to allow for Shakira’s performance. Colombia head coach Nestor Lorenzo wasn’t terribly pleased.
After admitting it’s no excuse because neither team benefits from this more than other, he did express his displeasure. “It should be like every other match, I don’t get it, it should be 15 minutes. [In other matches], if we come out on minute 16, we get sanctioned. Now it happens that there’s a show, and we can go out after 20 or 25 minutes, which can affect the physical condition of our players because they may get colder. You know how hard it is to recover from the locker rooms and warm up.”
3 hours 30 mins before kickoff: The condition of the playing surfaces has been a repeated talking point throughout the Copa America. It may be again tonight, as The Sporting News took a look at the Hard Rock Stadium pitch and found it may be under fire yet again.
Here we go again.
The #CopaAmerica final pitch is hard, and seams are visible.
Hard Rock Stadium has a regular natural grass surface, but it was removed for a concert on July 6 and only reinstalled four days prior to today’s #ARGCOL match.
We’ll see how it holds up. pic.twitter.com/aaSuGE10GN
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
4 hours before kickoff: A reminder that Lionel Messi can help Argentina make history tonight. If they were to win this evening, it would be their 16th Copa title. They currently sit level with Uruguay on 15 for the most of any CONMEBOL nation. The next closest is Brazil with nine!
4 hours 30 mins before kickoff: We’re in position for this evening’s final and it’s a hot and sticky one in Miami. It’s incredibly sweaty and temperatures have peaked around 95 degrees, with the humidity taking the “feels like” measure well over 100.
5 hours before kickoff: Welcome to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL for LIVE coverage from The Sporting News of the 2024 Copa America final!
Today’s a beautiful day to give away a major international trophy.#CopaAmerica #CopaAmerica2024 🏆⚽️ pic.twitter.com/MrBeNqYLYY
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
Copa America final Argentina vs. Colombia kickoff time
Originally, kickoff was scheduled for 8 p.m. ET in Miami, but due to significant crowd disturbances outside the Hard Rock Stadium gates, it has been delayed to 9:15 p.m. ET, a 105 minute setback.
Below are the updated kickoff times following the delay.
DateKickoff timeUSA/CanadaSun, Jul. 149:15 p.m. ETUSA/CanadaSun, Jul. 146:15 p.m. ETUKMon, Jul. 152:15 a.m. GMTAustraliaMon, Jul. 1511:15 a.m. AESTIndiaMon, Jul. 156:45 a.m. IST
Argentina vs. Colombia lineups, team news, starting 11
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is the only player to have started every game for Argentina at the 2024 Copa America. Thus, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has a number of calls to make.
Nahuel Molina has been tipped to start over Gonzalo Montiel at right-back given the latter has been managing an ankle problem this week. Nico Gonzalez will likely line up on the wing opposite Julian Alvarez, who has started over Lautaro Martinez for most of the tournament despite the latter leading the Golden Boot race with four goals.
Angel Di Maria will probably start on the bench, but being this is his last match for the national team, he will almost certainly come on for a farewell regardless of the game state.
Argentina starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): E. Martinez (GK) — Montiel, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico — De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister — Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez.
Argentina substitutes (max 15): Matchday squad released one hour prior to kickoff
Colombia will be forced into at least one change with Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz suspended after being sent off against Uruguay in the semifinal.
CONMEBOL has not confirmed any additional player bans following ugly scenes after the game in North Carolina, but Nestor Lorenzo is set to stick with a largely unchanged team.
Santiago Arias is set to come in for Munoz with Liverpool’s Luis Diaz in attack alongside captain James Rodriguez. Richard Rios is battling to be fit and will likely be replaced by Matheus Uribe if he cannot start.
MORE: James Rodriguez channeling his 2014 World Cup form in dazzling Copa America revival
Colombia starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Vargas (GK) — S. Arias, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica — Rios, Lerma — J. Arias, James, Diaz — Cordoba.
Colombia substitutes (max 15): Matchday squad released one hour prior to kickoff
Copa America final Argentina vs. Colombia live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch the Copa America 2024 final match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
TV channelStreamingUSAFOX, TUDN, UnivisionFubo, Fox Sports app/website, ViX, TUDN app/website, Univision NowCanadaCTV Two, TSN 1, 3, 4, 5, RDSTSN+, RDS App, CTV AppUKPremier Sports 1Premier Sports PlayerAustralia —Optus SportIndia——
USA: The Copa America final from Hard Rock Stadium will be televised in the United States on FOX, with a Spanish-language broadcast via Univision and TUDN. All three channels are available to stream on Fubo, with the latter offering a FREE seven-day trial.
Spanish language coverage is also available on streaming platform ViX. Radio coverage of the match can be followed on SiriusXM FC.
UK: This match will be shown in the UK on Premier Sport Player’s platforms.
Canada: All Copa America matches can be seen in Canada on TSN’s respective TV channel and live streaming services. RDS provides French language coverage. CTV also has the rights to this match.
Australia: Australia’s sole broadcaster for the Copa America is Optus Sport.
If this game is not available to watch live in your location, or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)
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