Argentina entered rarefied air Sunday with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The stage was already ready. But wait only for the festival. Waiting for World Cup winner Di Maria's departure. Waiting to take home the title 16 times, the highest in the history of the tournament. Argentina bid farewell to Di Maria after defeating Colombia in the final of the Copa America after a series of tense, counter-attacks.
Lionel Messi's teammates stepped up when the 37-year-old superstar captain was tearfully subbed off in the second half with an injury, and Argentina finally broke through in the 112th minute on a goal from Copa America top scorer Lautaro Martinez, his fifth of the tournament.
The win makes Argentina the first-ever nation to win two consecutive Copa America and the World Cup in between them. Messi's squad matches 2008-2012 Spain as the only country to make an equally dominant run. It also snaps a 28-game unbeaten streak for a very impressive Colombia squad.
