Argentina vs Brazil LIVE: Lionel Messi FINALLY wins major as Argentina secure Copa America – latest reaction

SEALED WITH A KISS

What a photo:

CAMPEONES

Argentina are officially the 2021 Copa America winners!

The Albiceleste just won South America's highest honour for the first time since 1993.

And that means the Argentines have now equalled Uruguay's record of 15 titles.

A night that will be remembered forever!

NO MORE MESSI ABOUT

This is how much value the Copa America has for Lionel Messi.

Messi initially decided to leave Argentina in 2016 but his tenacious character and winners' mentality didn't allow him to depart empty-handed.

The Barcelona legend stood around and promised that he will not retire without an international honour.

And so his long and grueling journey has finally come to a happy ending...

TOP CLASS

Argentina give Brazil a guard of honour as they receive their silver medals.

The Selecao players are devastated and some can't hold back their tears.

Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar is among them as the Brazilians came so close to lifting the trophy for the second consecutive time in their own turf.

The Albiceleste showed immense class after a rough final...

AWARDS

We start things off with some individual awards before the big one.

Argentina star Angel Di Maria gets awarded as Man of the Match after the final.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is named as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

And of course Lionel Messi is honoured as the competition's top scorer with four goals and five assists in seven matches.

That one is a bit odd as Messi finished as joint-first with Colombia's Luis Diaz

HEART OF A LION

Lionel Messi has done it!

Messi has won everything on club level with Barcelona, he also counts a record six Ballon d'Or honours.

But it took the 34-year-old 17 years to finally win an international title with Argentina.

And by God, he did it in style as he finishes the tournament as his country's record goalscorer and most capped player with 76 goals in 150 appearances

STATS

Brazil failed to successfully defend their Copa America crown, even though they controlled 60 per cent of possession.

The Selecao registered a total of 13 shots but only two of them were on target.

Argentina, on the other hand, recorded six shots, two of which were on target.

This was a very intense and physical encounter that led to nine yellow cards, five of which were issued to the Albiceleste

FT: BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

Argentina won the 2021 Copa America after beating bitter rivals Brazil in their most historic ground the Maracana Stadium.

The Albiceleste opened the scoring after 22 minutes when a crisp cross from Rodrigo De Paul found Angel Di Maria down the right flank.

Renan Lodi got a a clumsy touch and that allowed Di Maria to get in front of Ederson before volleying the ball over the Manchester City star to score what proved to be the winner.

Brazil thought they equalised on 53 minutes when Richarlison picked up a pass from the right and beat Emiliano Martinez thanks to some help from Cristian Romero's deflection but the Everton star was caught offside.

The same player failed again a minute later when his powerful shot forced a brilliant save from Martinez.

But Brazil's biggesrt chance occurred on 87 minutes when Gabriel Barbosa got the ball inside the area following a poor free-kick by Neymar and his shot was denied again by the Argentina goalkeeper.

Lionel Messi got the opportunity to put the game to bed a minute later when De Paul set him up in front of Ederson but the Barcelona legend got a heavy touch and that allowed the Manchester City shot-stopper to pick the ball up.

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

THAT'S FULL-TIME IN RIO!!!!!!

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

90+3 CHANCE!

De Paul picks up a loose ball at the back with a header and finds himself in front of Ederson, who gets there first.

The Argentina star deserves a goal after tonight's performance

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

90 Five more minutes of added time to go until full-time.

Brazil are desperately looking for an equaliser whereas Argentina's fans have already started celebrating in the stands

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

89 YELLOW CARD

Argentina ace Montiel gets cautioned for a challenge from behind on Emerson

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

88 WHAT A CHANCE!

How did Messi miss this?!

The Argentina legend gets a wonderful ball by De Paul and finds himself inside the box in front of Ederson.

Messi gets the chance to finish the game but gets an awkward touch and so the Brazil keeper picks the ball up

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

87 WHAT A CHANCE!

Brazil come extremely close to an equaliser!

Neymar delivers a free-kick from the left flank that gets cleared from a header.

But the ball doesn't go far as Barbosa tries a shot from the box that is denied thanks to a brilliant save by Martinez!

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

85 Brazil are desperately pushing for an equaliser but Argentina are stil holding up.

Messi hasn't exactly stood out but the Albiceleste's midfield and defence have been stellar so far

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

83 YELLOW CARD

It has just come to our attention tha Marquinhos was booked a minute ago for protest.

Brazil stars were very unhappy with Otamendi's challenge on Neymar.

The Selecao superstar has endured a tough second half so far following a series of rough challenges...

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

83 CHANCE!

Barbosa breaks inside the box from the left and tries a shot from a tight angle but is denied by a crucial block from Pezzella

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

81 YELLOW CARD

We got another booking as Otamendi and Gonzalez sandwich Neymar to the ground.

But only Otamendi gets cautioned for that rough challenge

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

80 Just 10 minutes left until the Copa America Final comes to an end.

If Argentina hold on then they will win their first trophy of the century!

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

79 SUBSTITUTION

Argentina manager Scaloni makes a triple change as Pezzella replaces Romero, Gonzalez comes on for Lautaro and Palacios takes the scorer Di Maria's place

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

78 PENALTY APPEAL

Referee seems to be waiting on VAR regarding a penalty shout for Brazil...

But nothing seems to be there as Barbosa came on Montiel and then fell on his own

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

76 SUBSTITUTION

Brazil manager Tite shakes things up again with Emerson replacing Lodi, due to his yellow card earlier.

And Barbosa takes Paqueta's place

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

75 This has been a very intense game, as expected, with six yellow cards equally allocated.

Here are only some of the roughest challenges so far:

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

72 YELLOW CARD

Another booking as Paqueta tackles Tagliafico hard and the Brazil ace gets punished.

Based on what we're seeing, a red card may not be too far away...

BRAZIL 0-1 ARGENTINA

71 CHANCE

Neymar delivers a beautiful through ball to Firmino but it misses him.

That doesn't matter because Paqueta gains possession and tries a shot that goes out for a goal-kick