Argentina triumphed over Colombia to secure a record 16th Copa America title, but the match was overshadowed by significant disruptions outside the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The kick-off was delayed by 80 minutes due to disturbances involving fans without tickets attempting to force their way into the venue.
The chaos outside the stadium led to a significant delay in the start of the match.
Organizers reported that fans without tickets attempted to gain entry, resulting in long waits for legitimate ticket holders and clashes with police and security personnel.
Several arrests were made, and some fans required medical attention from paramedics due to the heat and the commotion.
Adding to the disruptions, the half-time interval was extended to 25 minutes to accommodate a concert by Colombian pop star Shakira, a decision that had been previously criticized by Colombia’s coach Nestor Lorenzo.
The match itself, played in hot and humid conditions, saw few clear scoring opportunities.
Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba hit the woodwork in the first half, and Argentina’s Nicolas Tagliafico had a late effort disallowed for offside.
Ultimately, Martinez’s late strike and his tally of five goals in the tournament earned him the Golden Boot and sealed Argentina’s historic victory.