Copa America final: Lionel Messi and Argentina face red-hot Colombia

Messi and Argentina will face a red-hot Colombia squad that has won a team-record 28 straight games that goes back to February 2022.

MIAMI — Superstar athletes, die-hard fans and, yes, even Shakira will all converge for the soccer world’s highly anticipated Copa América final on Sunday. The storied tournament featuring teams from South America, Central America, North America and the Caribbean will conclude at Hard Rock Stadium, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET as Argentina, the reigning World Cup and Copa América champion, faces fellow heavyweight Colombia.

Resale site StubHub said ticket prices were starting at $1,600 as of Thursday evening for what would be a thrilling matchup any year. But this event is different, as it could be global superstar Lionel Messi’s last major appearance for Argentina.

“These are the last battles, and I am enjoying them to the fullest,” Messi said after Tuesday’s semifinal win over Canada. The Inter Miami forward has bowed out of the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, and the next World Cup is almost two years away.

“Let’s enjoy it,” Messi added. “Let’s enjoy everything that we are experiencing, what is happening to us as a national team, as a community, as a group.”

Messi, 37, known as arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, joined Major League Soccer in 2023 after two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain and more than 20 at Barcelona. He has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards (signifying the best player in the world) and helped Barcelona win the UEFA Champions League four times. His biggest success, however, came in 2022 when he helped Argentina win the World Cup.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/copa-america-final-argentina-colombia-rcna161676

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