Argentina Beats Brazil, Wins 15th Copa America Title
Argentina won its first major title in 28 years and Lionel Messi finally got his hands on an international trophy in the colours of his home nation as an Angel Di Maria goal gave them a 1-0 win against Brazil and a record-equalling 15th Copa America trophy.
Di Maria, starting for just the second time in the Copa, justified his selection by scoring the opener midway through the first half.
Renan Lodi failed to cut out a long ball forward from Rodrigo De Paul and Di Maria lobbed the stranded goalkeeper Ederson to give his side the lead.
Brazil piled on the pressure in an exciting second half but even with five strikers on the field they could not get an equaliser against an Argentine defence protected by the outstanding Rodrigo De Paul.
Richarlison had a goal chalked off for offside seven minutes into the second half and then forced Emiliano Martinez into a good stop two minutes later.
But as Brazil pushed forward for an equaliser, gaps opened up and Argentina missed two clear chances to score in the dying moments of the match.
However, the referee blew the final whistle and the match finished 1-0 to Argentina. The victory was Argentina’s 15th Copa America triumph and means they draw level with Uruguay as the all-time leading winners.
Argentina’s win was a particular triumph for Barcelona striker Messi, who picked up his first ever title in a blue-and-white shirt after more than a decade of club and individual honours.
Messi finished the tournament as joint top goalscorer with four goals and was elected joint best player along with Neymar. The Argentine players surrounded their captain at the final whistle to celebrate a remarkable achievement at the famous Rio stadium.
“I’m speechless,” Argentina goalkeeper Emilian Martinez said. “I knew my dream would come true, and where better than the Maracanazo and giving the title to the best in the world and fulfilling his dream.”
Argentina’s win extended its sequence of undefeated matches to 20 under coach Lionel Scaloni and handed Brazil its first competitive defeat since they lost to Belgium in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters/Copa America.
