Conor McGregor scooped more than $1million as Argentina won the Copa America final against Colombia after extra-time on Sunday.
McGregor staked a staggering $365,000 (£281,807) on Lionel Messi's side to lift the trophy at odds of 7/4, meaning he would win a seven-figure sum if the bet was successful. He placed his bet after Argentina strolled through the Copa America group stage without conceding a goal, beating Canada, Chile and Peru.
Messi's side needed penalties to see off Ecuador in the quarter-finals before Canada were dispatched again in the semi-finals. Colombia won two of their three group matches, beating Paraguay and Costa Rica before 1-1 draw with Brazil. Panama were thrashed 5-0 in the last-eight before a bad-tempered semi-final against Uruguay was settled by Jefferson Lerma's first-half strike.
Before Argentina kicked off in the United States, McGregor was already celebrating a win when his 11-1 bet on Spain to win Euro 2024 paid off. That $83,500 bet meant he made just over $1m on the Euros, and there was another success to come.
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Argentina started Sunday's final as the favourites to lift the Copa America trophy for the 16th time. They didn't have things all their own way at Hard Rock Stadium, though. Colombia created plenty of chances in the first half, while Argentina's task was made harder after the break when Messi was forced off injured. The Albiceleste had the ball in the net 15 minutes from time, but an offside flag against Nicolas Tagliafico meant the goal was ruled out and extra-time would follow.
Martinez came off the bench in the extra period, looking to add to his tournament-leading four goals. And it was he who made the difference, latching onto a Giovani Lo Celso ball to win the game and make McGregor even richer.
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@thenotoriousmma/Instagram)McGregor's bet was specifically on Argentina to win the tournament, meaning he didn't fall foul of the same issues encountered by Drake at the 2022 World Cup. The Canadian rapper backed Messi's team to beat France in the final, but inside 90 minutes, so their penalty shoot-out victory was no good for him.
It was a record 16th Copa America for Argentina, but potentially their last major tournament with Lionel Messi involved. He indicated he will continue his international career "As long as I feel that I'm fine and can continue contributing," but he will turn 39 midway through the 2026 World Cup and it remains to be seen whether he will consider himself able to play a part.
“Leo has something that everyone should have. He’s the best in history and, even with an ankle like that, he doesn’t want to go off,” Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said after the star's injury in Sunday's final. “It’s not because he’s selfish, but because he doesn’t want to let his team-mates down. He was born to be on a pitch.”
