CNN
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Argentina won their third consecutive major title with an extra-time victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday, as a tearful Lionel Messi likely said goodbye to international football in a Copa America final delayed by crowd unrest.
Striker Lautaro Martinez, who came on as a substitute, scored the winner late in extra time to give the world champions a 1-0 victory, ending Colombia’s 28-match unbeaten run and giving Argentina a record 16th Copa America crown.
It came after a hard-fought match that saw Argentina captain Messi, 37, replaced in the second half with an apparent ankle injury in what is likely to be his last game at a major international tournament.
The football 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 limping Messi embraced his team-mates and coaches with a big smile before lifting the trophy as jubilant Argentina fans serenaded the champions.
The celebratory scenes were the culmination of a chaotic night in Florida, where kickoff at the sold-out Hard Rock Stadium, which can hold 65,300, was delayed by more than an hour after “thousands of fans without tickets attempted to force their way into the stadium,” according to a stadium spokesman.
Photos and videos taken outside the stadium showed a massive crowd, with women and children visibly distressed among thousands of fans trapped outside the gates. At least one photo showed fans falling on top of each other at a toppled crash barrier.
Video broadcast by CNN affiliate WSVN also showed fans scaling the stadium walls in an attempt to enter.
It is not known whether any fans or security personnel were injured.
The gates were then reopened “for a short period to all supporters to avoid stampedes and serious injuries at the perimeter,” the stadium spokesperson said in an update.
“There was a strong fear that fans would be crushed while trying to enter. Law enforcement and security personnel were immediately deployed throughout the stadium and its surrounding areas to ensure the safety of fans as much as possible in light of this unprecedented situation,” the statement said.
The Miami-Dade Police Department said several incidents occurred “due to unruly behavior and fans trying to gain access to the stadium.”
CNN has contacted police for further information.
In a joint statement, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Public Safety Officer James Reyes said they were “outraged by the unprecedented events” and that authorities would investigate what led to the chaos.
“Let’s be clear: this situation should never have happened and cannot happen again,” the statement said.
The scenes are also likely to raise concerns at FIFA, world football’s governing body, which has approved Hard Rock Stadium as a venue for the 2026 World Cup. The Copa America is organized by CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation.
Sunday’s unrest in Miami comes after Colombia’s semi-final victory over Uruguay in Charlotte, North Carolina, was marred by unpleasant scenes.
Tempers flared on Wednesday after a tense match, when players from both teams clashed on the pitch before live television footage showed Uruguayan players entering the stands and brawling with supporters.
This story has been updated with additional information.
