Copa America best bets: How to bet Colombia vs. Argentina in Sunday's final 

When Argentina went to the 2022 World Cup, many people already had it pegged as the tournament winner. It had a legendary star in Messi, a handful of talented kids in Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez, a supporting cast of players from the world's best leagues and a coach that knew how to get the best out of everyone. It also, not for nothing, entered the tournament on the back of an unbeaten streak stretching back nearly two years.

Copa America final: Argentina vs. Colombia, Sunday, July 14, 8 p.m. ET, FOX (Odds: Argentina favored over Colombia)

This context mattered. It framed Argentina as a potential champion long before a ball was kicked, and in tournaments like the World Cup believing tends to be half the battle. But the context matters for the 2024 Copa America too. We're hearing lots of chatter online about how this is Argentina's final to lose, with the implication being that the whole game is nothing but a formality. Don't believe it. Because let us tell you something: only one team is entering the Copa America final with a legendary star, a handful of talented kids, a supporting cast of players from the world's best leagues, a coach that knows how to get the best of everyone and a multi-year unbeaten streak ... and it sure as heck isn't Argentina.

Colombia has been the great mystery of this Copa. It's had everything going for it since the start, but it's almost like we couldn't believe — or didn't want to believe — that it was a legitimate challenger. Coach Nestor Lorenzo and his men have generously set us straight. They've been incredible from their first kick of the tournament, scoring twelve goals and conceding just two. And they did all that from the most difficult side of the bracket, too. Argentina had to beat Chile, Ecuador and Canada to make this final; Colombia had to take down Brazil, Panama and Uruguay. 

Colombia's rise isn't down to any one player, but the resurgence of World Cup 2014 superstar James Rodriguez has generated the most headlines. He's been spectacular this summer and broke Lionel Messi's Copa America assist record in Colombia's game against Uruguay.

But can Colombia survive a battle with the world champions? Argentina famously gives no quarter and it will be playing in Miami in front of a sea of Messi fans. And while Argentina has lost recently (to Uruguay and Saudi Arabia) its international record remains stellar. It's had to grind out a few results at this Copa, but it's delivered, and it's clearly still capable of mind-boggling brilliance.