Argentina 0-0 Chile (2-4 on pens): Lionel Messi misses penalty and is denied again as Chile retain Copa America crown

Lionel Messi suffered more final heartbreak as Argentina were beaten on penalties by Chile in the Copa America final for the second year in a row.

The Barcelona forward’s wait for an international honour goes on after he missed from the spot and Chile retained their title with a 4-2 shootout victory at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

It marked the third straight year that Messi and Argentina have lost in a major final after extra-time following the 2014 World Cup final defeat by Germany and last year’s penalties loss to Chile.

It was a final of few clear-cut chances and many flared tempers.

The star men on whom there had been so much attention – Lionel Messi and Sanchez – were thwarted by a combination of the opposite defences and the referee’s whistle.

Gonzalo Higuain came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when he pounced on a mistake from Gary Medel and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

The Argentine striker chipped Bravo as he rushed off his line and went to the ground, but his shot wasn’t powerful enough and Medel got back to clear at full stretch – before a nasty collision with the far post.

Messi had few opportunities to run at the Chilean defence, and every time he did he was brought to the floor.

Marcelo Diaz saw red in the first half after two bookable offences, both for cynical challenges on Messi when the Barcelona wizard was in full flow.

Chile were down to 10 men and faced the prospect of a whole hour with a man deficit.

That was until Marcos Rojo was shown a straight red card before half-time for a foul on Arturo Vidal.

It was a harsh decision, and one which referee Heber Lopes was slated for on social media.

Chile’s best chances came on the counter-attack, and it wasn’t until the 79th minute that Sergio Romero was called into action to keep out Eduardo Vargas’ low shot from a tight angle.

The best opportunity of the game came in the 82nd minute, and it fell to the man Argentina wanted it to – Sergio Aguero.

The ball fell invitingly for the Manchester City forward just as it did against QPR on the final day of a dramatic Premier League season in 2012, and with it a chance to make himself a hero again.

Aguero let the ball run across his body onto his right foot, but only managed to blaze high and wide.

Then came the chance that Chile were waiting for, in the 91st minute.

An excellent move down the left-hand side resulted in Jean Beausejour pulling the ball back for Alexis Sanchez.

The Arsenal forward looked set to tap the ball in from six yards and seal a second straight title for Chile but his shot was blocked from point-blank range.

Then was Argentina’s turn to almost steal victory and it was Messi who almost did so.

The Barcelona striker beat two men before lining up his shot from the edge of the area, only to blast wide, in keeping with the story of Argentina’s night in front of goal.

It was as free-flowing as the match had been all night, but still there was no separating the teams and we were headed for extra-time.

The game was starting to open up with both teams seemingly not happy with the lottery of a penalty shootout.

Eduardo Vargas went close for Chile when his header from the penalty spot looked bound for the far corner, only for Sergio Romero to reach out both hands and grasp the ball.

It was then Bravo’s turn to shine, and the Barcelona stopper somehow reached up to deny Sergio Aguero when his header was looping into the far corner.

Erik Lamela was introduced by Argentina, but still the deadlock couldn’t be broken and these two teams were headed to penalties in the final for the second year running.

Arturo Vidal stepped up first for Chile and missed and it seemed like Argentina’s painful recent past was about to end.

Then up stepped Messi, and he blazed miles over the bar, much to the shock of his team-mates and every Argentine fan inside MetLife Stadium.

Lucas Biglia missing Argentina’s fourth spot-kick was the final straw, and up came Francisco Silva to slide home the winner and spark wild celebrations from Chile just like a year ago.

Messi, though, was left with an all too familiar feeling in an Argentine shirt – another defeat in a final and still an international major honour eludes him.