Lionel Messi finally ends his trophy drought as Argentina beat Brazil to clinch the Copa America Trophy.
Superstar Lionel Messi finally ends his international trophy drought as Argentina beat Brazil by 1-0 to win the Copa America final on Sunday. The victory at the Copa America final ended Argentina’s 28- year wait for a major trophy and also ended Brazil’s unbeaten home record that stretched back more than 2,500 days.
Argentina’s winning goal at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro came in the 22 minutes after Rodrigo de Paul made a long pass to Angel Di Maria. The 33-year-old Veteran striker counted on some sloppy defending from left-back Renan Lodi to take control and lob it past goalkeeper Ederson.
For the unversed Argentina had last tasted success at a major tournament in 1993 when the great Gabriel Batistuta’s brace gave them a 2-1 win over Mexico in the Copa Final in Ecuador.
It was only the third goal Brazil conceded in the entire tournament. Messi’s odyssey might have come to an end but his competitor Brazilian superstar Neymar is still without a major title at the international level. Though Neymar tried hard with her expertise by dribbles and extraordinary passes but unfortunately, the Brazilian star could not threaten the Argentina Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Brazil tried hard to secure the equalizer in the second half and Richarlison put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out as the Everton star was caught offside.
With the win, Argentina has defeated Brazil in the Copa America Final for the first time since 1937, equalling Uruguay’s record as the most successful nation in the tournament’s history with 15 titles.
It was a match where it was anticipated that we will witness the epic clash between Brazil’s Neymar and Argentina’s Messi but both men failed to have a major impact on the game. Messi showed glimpses of brilliance and came very close to scoring a goal but unfortunately he couldn’t do so. Meanwhile, Neymar was also constantly fouled and tackled by the Argentina Midfielders and Defenders.
Lionel Messi had played three Copa America finals before this along with the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, and the victory finally gives the talismanic footballer his first major trophy with the senior team.
Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria was declared the Man of the Match, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was declared as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Superstar Messi finished as the tournament’s joint goalscorer with four goals and was chosen as the joint best player along with Neymar. It is a moment that Lionel Messi will remember forever. Messi’s long-awaited International Championship Trophy ends with a fairy tale finish in the land of the arch-rivals.