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Argentina players, including captain Lionel Messi and the now-retired Angel Di Maria, celebrated their 2024 Copa America triumph. La Albiceleste defended their continental title with a narrow 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia in Miami on Sunday (July 14).
After a goalless 90 minutes - which saw Messi come off after the hour mark due to a swollen ankle - extra time ensued. With eight minutes to go before the dreaded shootout, Giovani Lo Celso set up Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez for the 112th-minute winner, which marked the Albiceleste's record 16th Copa title.
It was undoubtedly an occasion to celebrate in the Albiceleste camp. Seleccion Argentina in English uploaded snippets of celebrations from various players, with one showing Messi and the now retired Di Maria, as players' family members and children also joined in.
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Here's the video:
Having scored in La Albiceleste's last three title triumphs - 2021 Copa America, 2022 Finalissima and 2022 FIFA World Cup - Di Maria couldn't extend the streak on Sunday.
In fact, the 36-year-old went scoreless in five games, providing a lone assist in the 2-0 group-stage win over Peru, with knockout qualification already assured as group winners.
Di Maria played 117 minutes in the Copa America final before coming off to a rapturous applause from the Argentina faithful as he called time on his international career, ending with 31 goals and 32 assists in 145 games.
When 2024 Copa America winners Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria ended Argentina's 36-year FIFA World Cup drought
Reigning Copa America champions arrived at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as one of the pre-tournament favourites but stumbled to a 2-1 upset loss to Saudi Arabia in their campaign opener.
Lionel Scaloni's side, though, improved massively, winning the group with 2-0 wins over Mexico and Poland to qualify for the knockouts. There, they beat Australia (2-1), the Netherlands (4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw) and Croatia (3-0) to reach the final.
In the title clash with defending champions France, Angel Di Maria scored his only goal of the tournament, having set up Lionel Messi's opener. However, Les Bleus fought back to force extra time, where Messi scored again and in the ensuing shootout as Argentina became world champions for the first time since 1986.
While Lionel Messi led from the front with seven goals and three assists in seven games - playing every minute of every game - Angel Di Maria's two of three goal contributions in five games came in the final.
