Messi announces retirement after Argentina win Copa America title



Argentina's Lionel Messi (centre) holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after beating Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final. APGulf Today Report

Finally Lionel Messi cried with joy as Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in Sunday's Copa America final to secure the national team's first title in 28 years and the superstar's first major international trophy.


Argentina's Lionel Messi is thrown into the air by teammates. AFP


After four losses in the finals, early exits in major tournaments and even a decision to retire from the national team the superstar celebrated a much-awaited title in the Maracana Stadium.

Messi was 18 years old when he made his international bow in 2005 for a powerful Argentina side.

Messi's hopes of international success were repeatedly frustrated despite a glittering career that has seen him help Barcelona to win the Champions League four times, La Liga 10 times and the Copa Del Rey seven times and finally Sunday's Copa America title that ended Argentina's 28-year drought of major trophies,


Lionel Messi kneels at the end of the Copa America final soccer match at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. AP

The captain Messi also broke the team's record for international appearances with 151 matches.

History would not repeat itself this time around as Messi not only inspired his side but also finished the tournament as the top goalscorer and with the most assists.

He was named the player of the tournament, during which Messi equalled and then broke Javier Mascerano's record of 147 caps for Argentina, setting a new mark of 151 on Saturday.


Fans of Argentina celebrate after the nation's victory. AFP

Brazil became last-minute hosts of Copa America two weeks before kickoff after original organisers Colombia and Argentina withdrew. Many players protested against the tournament taking place as the COVID-19 pandemic caused thousands of deaths a day in South America, even more so in Brazil where 532,000 have died.Officials allowed a few thousand fans into the Maracana for the decider, the only match in the tournament to have spectators. There was very little social distancing in celebrations, and some fans removed their masks.

Fans go wild on the streets as Lionel Messi leads Argentina to Copa America - in pictures

Barcelona star finally lifts a trophy for his country


Jul 11, 2021

Argentina fans went wild in Buenos Aires as Lionel Messi's side won the Copa America, their first trophy after a wait of 28 years.

Messi finally lifted his first silverware for the national team, filling in one of the biggest gaps in his decorated career, made all the sweeter as it was in the domain of their arch rivals Brazil.

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Copa America: Lionel Messi's trophy wait is over as Argentina beat Brazil

Argentina's winning goal at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro came in the 22nd minute after veteran forward Angel di Maria lobbed goalkeeper Ederson.

The trophy saw a huge outpouring of relief for Argentina fans, who last saw a victory when Messi was only six years old. Saturday's victory in Rio gave the team their 15th Copa America title, equalling Uruguay's total.

Barcelona star Messi had reached the final of Copa America three times and lost all of them in 2007, 2015 and 2016.

Now, at last, he will have good memories at the Maracana, where Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany.

Fireworks and wild partying followed the final whistle, as can be seen in the gallery below

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Fans celebrate in Buenos Aires after Argentina won the Copa America with a 1-0 victory over arch rivals Brazil. (MATIAS BAGLIETTO/REUTERS)
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