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Buenos Aires, June 11, 2025: A year after the Copa América 2024 final, the tournament sparked a heated verbal clash between Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi and Colombia’s star James Rodriguez during a World Cup qualifier match on Wednesday morning at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the off-field controversy stole the spotlight.
According to Argentine media outlet TyC Sports, James recently made controversial remarks about the Copa América final, alleging that biased refereeing cost Colombia the title. He reportedly said, “The referees favored Argentina. We were denied a clear penalty.” During the match, Messi confronted James, saying, “You claimed the referees helped us in the final. You talk too much.” James denied the accusation, responding, “I didn’t say that.”
In the match, Argentina fell behind early due to a brilliant solo goal by Luis Diaz in the 24th minute. Despite being reduced to ten men after Enzo Fernandez’s red card, Argentina equalized in the 80th minute through a stunning strike by Thiago Almada. The game was marked by tense moments, with tempers flaring even after the final whistle. During the customary handshake, Argentina’s Ezequiel Palacios and Nicolas Otamendi clashed verbally with Colombia’s Richard Rios. Messi blamed referee Juan Gabriel Benitez for escalating tensions, stating, “Your decisions caused this situation.”
Messi played until the 77th minute but couldn’t find the net. Although Argentina has already secured their World Cup berth, this draw is seen as a setback for their future preparations. The lingering Copa América dispute continues to fuel rivalry between the two teams.
AI/MR
