The Hard Tackle looks at the three most important players for the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia who can have a game-changing impact on proceedings.
Lionel Messi has to be part of the conversation when considering the key players who could impact a specific game, let alone a continental tournament final. Messi has been productive during this Copa America edition, taking Argentina into yet another major final as they take on Colombia for continental supremacy.
As much as Argentina found it difficult to get going in the quarter-finals against Ecuador, they made it look equally easy in the semi-final win over Canada. The pre-tournament favourites justified that tag as they are into yet another final of a major tournament, following their success at the Copa America 2021 and then FIFA World Cup 2022.
Whether they can beat Colombia remains to be seen, as Nestor Lorenzo’s side are up for the task. Los Cafeteros have been one of the lethal attacking sides in this tournament and showed further proof of their overall quality in the narrow win over Uruguay in the semi-finals.
Uruguay found it difficult to play against Colombia in the first half and could not do any damage when Lorenzo’s men were reduced to ten men at the break. Overall, the Colombians showed they can be a resilient side if they have to sit back and defend, which could be key for them, especially if they manage to take an early lead in this Final.
With both sides gearing up for the grand final, games like this come down to individual brilliance. Argentina and Colombia have the personalities to do the damage, with both sets of attackers likely to take centre stage in this showdown. Here we look at Messi, James Rodriguez and Jefferson Lerma.
James Rodriguez
The heartbeat of the Colombian attack, Rodriguez has shown he still has what it takes at the biggest of stages, and this is the biggest game of his career for the national side or otherwise. The former Real Madrid man already has a record-breaking six assists at Copa America 2024, beating Messi’s haul of five in the previous edition in 2021.
He wants more and would love to see his name on the score-sheet. For Colombia, getting an early goal is imperative to set up a base for the rest of the game. Rodriguez is key to this happening, with the attacking midfielder benefiting from some good forwards in the side who can finish what he sets up.
Rodriguez is Colombia’s most essential and famous player in this final against Argentina. Will the attacking midfielder weave his magic on the biggest of stages? He is Colombia’s best chance in the final third and has to make things count in the end.
Jefferson Lerma
Lerma missed the crucial encounter against Panama, where Colombia thrashed the Central American side 5-0. The Crystal Palace star immediately returned for the Uruguay game, and his goal in the first half proved enough to clinch the win for Colombia in their quest to reach the final.
While Lerma has shown he can score goals, with two strikes under his belt in this tournament alone, that is not his primary job as a defensive midfielder. Colombia operate with a double-pivot under Nestor Lorenzo, with Lerma lining up alongside Richard Rios, with the former offering more to the defensive side.
With Argentina likely to operate with three midfielders, the pairing of Lerma and Rios will play a crucial role in the Copa America final. The Colombian defence needs someone to protect the backline, and Lerma will have to be at his exceptional best against the top team in this tournament and probably the world.
Lionel Messi
Is there a more significant presence in this Argentina side than Messi? Messi, the man of the big occasions, will lead Argentina into yet another major tournament final and certainly be the leading man on the team. Everything passes through the former Barcelona superstar in the final third, and he will again want to lead by example.
The Argentine talisman’s World Cup final success has not deterred him from his quest for more success. In fact, he will want to create a history of his own and match some of his former club teammates by replicating this prosperous period of the Spanish national side, when they won back-to-back Euros and the World Cup sandwiched between those two trophies.
Messi will operate as the chief orchestrator of the Argentine attack. He aims to win his nation a record 16th Copa America title, which will make them the undisputed champion of champions in this tournament, surpassing Uruguay. Hence, there is more to it than personal glory for Messi, as the talismanic superstar will want a top performance to get another continental crown in his bag.
