Copa America: At Last! Messi Ends Trophy Drought As Argentina Beats Brazil 1 - 0

 

Lionel Messi won his first trophy with his national team as Ángel di Maria's goal gave Argentina a 1-0 win over hosts Brazil in the Copa America final on Saturday.

Argentina's winning goal at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro came in the 22nd minute after Rodrigo de Paul made a long pass to Ángel 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.

Lionel Messi has endured a lot of heartbreak throughout his international career with Argentina but on Saturday, when the match ended, a tearful Messi was thrown into the air by some of his joyous teammates.

With a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the Copa America final, Messi finally captured his first international tournament. Seeing the emotion on his face when the final whistle blew showed just how much this meant for the 34-year-old. "The happiness is immense," said Messi after the game as he also praised the attitude of the Argentina squad. "Many times I dreamed of this.

In a contrast of emotions, Messi's opposite number 10 and former Barcelona teammate Neymar sank to his knees in tears at the final whistle, as his own personal pursuit of international success continues, having missed Brazil's 2019 Copa win through injury.

The pair (Messi & Neymar), who played together at the Nou Camp between 2013 and 2017 before the Brazilian's move to Paris St-Germain, embraced in a long-lasting hug while they waited for the trophy ceremony.

Messi and Neymar share a long hug after the Copa America Final