The Copa América. The Finalissima. The World Cup. And now another Copa América. The last three years have been ones to remember for this Argentina team, surely now, with this latest victory, the greatest that the football-addicted nation, land of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, has ever seen.
Some names may change, with Ángel Di María now riding triumphantly off into the sunset and Messi perhaps close to following him, but Argentina are at the top and seemingly there to stay, a point emphasised across a long, sweltering Florida evening that crowned the Albiceleste once more as the undisputed kings of South American football.
For a good while it appeared that the game against Colombia, one of the competition's brightest sides throughout and vanquishers of Uruguay in the semi-finals, may not kick off at all. Days after Marcelo Bielsa had aimed both barrels at this Copa América's shambolic organisation it appeared that the authorities were going out of their way to prove the veteran Uruguay coach right.
Thousands of ticketless fans descended on Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, overwhelming the inadequate security in scenes reminiscent of the Euro 2020 final in London and causing a series of harrowing scenes while also pushing back the start a full 90 minutes. That, plus the absurd extended 'half-time' show from Shakira, gave the impression that this final might never come to a close.
But amid the silliness there was a football game going on and it had Colombia as its protagonists early, as the Cafeteros ran a subdued Argentina ragged at times and tested Emiliano Martínez and his defence to the limit in the first half. It was far from a vintage performance from the Copa holders, not aided by Messi's sluggish recovery from a nasty tumble that raised questions over whether the captain would even make it back onto the field once Shakira had finished her prolonged and unsolicited warbling to the Miami crowd.
He did, but not for long. Twenty minutes into the second half, just when the tide was turning in Argentina's favour, Messi's right ankle jammed into the turf and he fell to earth with a sickening thud. Nicolás González was called into the action and the veteran number 10 sat on the bench disconsolate, tears streaming down his face as he contemplated what could prove a nightmarish conclusion to his glittering international career.
Do it for Messi. That was the unspoken mantra for the rest of the game as Argentina battled through the angst of losing their talisman and the fatigue of two hours of fiercely fought football against a more than worthy rival. For a moment it looked like victory was coming in the second half when González poked home, but play was brought back for an offside in the build-up. At the other end danger loomed on occasion, but was kept at bay by the stellar Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez and, of course, Emiliano Martínez, who did not put a foot or indeed glove wrong almost the entire Copa.
And just when it looked like ‘Dibu’ would have to do his thing again in the shootout, a breakthrough. Three substitutes, Leandro Paredes, Gio Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez, combined late in extra time and the latter exorcised his World Cup demons by firing past Camilo Vargas and sealing victory. Inevitably, upon wheeling round he went straight to Messi, his ankle swollen to the size of a grapefruit but revelling in a moment of joy and, perhaps, the symbolic passing of the torch to the next generation of heroes.
It is the end of the road for Di María, one of Argentina's great football heroes. We do not yet know what the future holds for his partner of more than a decade, whether he can continue to fight the pain and advancing years or whether this will prove his final dance. Whatever happens, the pair have earned the respect and adoration of an entire nation, and after all of their travails and woes with the Albiceleste they deserve this glorious run of trophies and jubilation.
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