In the second half of the 1–1 draw between Argentina and Colombia, one moment stole the spotlight at El Monumental. Lionel Messi approached James Rodríguez and confronted him directly: “You said we were helped in the final, you talk too much,” the Argentine captain said sternly.

The Colombian No. 10, visibly taken aback, quickly replied: “Why? I didn’t say anything.” Although both tried to cover their mouths, the cameras caught the moment, and the clip quickly went viral on social media, sparking debate among fans and media alike.

Copa América Final: The Source of the Tension

Messi’s frustration wasn’t random. After the 2024 Copa América final in Miami, which Argentina won, James Rodríguez had publicly questioned the referee’s decisions, implying that some calls favored the Argentinians. While the Colombian never addressed it again, Messi clearly didn’t forget.

The Argentine star’s reaction on the field showed not just intensity, but also loyalty—defending his team’s achievement from what he saw as an unfair accusation.

Tight Result Keeps Qualifiers on Fire

Aside from the heated moment, the game itself was evenly contested. Colombia took the lead thanks to a goal from Luis Díaz, but despite going down to ten men after Enzo Fernández was sent off, Argentina managed to draw level late in the match through Thiago Almada.

The 1–1 result keeps Argentina atop the South American standings with 35 points, while Colombia remains firmly in the automatic qualification zone, showing grit and consistency as the qualifying campaign nears its end.

The tense exchange between Messi and James Rodríguez will be one of the lasting images from this matchup. More than just a verbal spat, it was a display of pride, memory, and raw South American rivalry on full display.