Miami Gardens: Lionel Messi stands on the brink of leading Argentina to a historic 16th Copa America title as they face a resurgent Colombia in Sunday night's final at Hard Rock Stadium, a venue set to host multiple matches during the 2026 World Cup.

Leading up to the final, tensions rose as Uruguay's Darwin Núñez and his teammates intervened in a physical altercation between fans at Bank of America Stadium after their semifinal victory over Colombia. Uruguay captain José Giménez and coach Marcelo Bielsa voiced concerns about player safety, prompting calls for reinforced security from both sides.

Argentina, champions of the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, aim to emulate Spain's feat of winning three consecutive major championships (2008-2012). Despite Messi's battles with a leg injury throughout the tournament, the 37-year-old superstar has been pivotal, orchestrating play and scoring crucial goals, including a deflected shot against Canada in the semifinal.

Speaking ahead of the final, Messi acknowledged his physical struggles but expressed confidence in his readiness for the decisive match. "In the final, I'm going to feel better," he assured in an interview with DSports.

Colombia enters the final on the back of an impressive unbeaten streak, setting a team record of 28 games undefeated, surpassing their previous best from 1992-1994. James Rodríguez has been instrumental, leading the tournament with six assists, surpassing Messi's record from 2021.

Colombia's coach Néstor Lorenzo praised James' performance and emphasised the team's collective effort, which included a memorable victory over Uruguay. He underscored Colombia's ambition to sustain their resurgence in international football, aiming for consistent success beyond surprising finals appearances.

The encounter is a rematch of the 2021 semifinal, where Argentina narrowly edged out Colombia on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. Scaloni, Argentina's coach, acknowledged the stress of finals but remained focused on executing their game plan.

As anticipation builds for this clash of titans, both teams are poised to deliver a thrilling finale to a tournament marred by off-field incidents. CONMEBOL's stern stance against disruptions underscores the significance of a peaceful and competitive conclusion to the Copa America. AP