Copa America 2021: Lionel Messi’s long wait for an international honour with Argentina came to an end after La Albiceleste defeated defending champions Brazil in the Copa America 2021 final. Angel Di Maria scored the only goal of the game as Argentina ended their 28-year wait for a title having suffered severe heartbreaks over the last few years. The win sparked massive celebrations across the globe with fans showering praise on Lionel Messi after the Argentine captain won the player of the tournament.
BRASIL, DECIME QUÉ SE SIENTE… 🎶🎵 pic.twitter.com/sZEyWohnWk
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) July 11, 2021
Lionel Messi finished the Copa America 2021 as the top goalscorer, top assisted and more importantly with a winners medal as Argentina defeated Neymar and Co. in the final. The 34-year-old sealed a place alongside Diego Maradona in the country’s history with the triumph and his reaction to the final whistle suggested that the weight on his shoulders had been lifted. While Argentina celebrated the victory, Lionel Messi’s teammates dedicated the win to their captain who had endured four finals heartbreaks over the last decade.
LA FAMILIA 💙🇦🇷#VibraElContinente #CopaAmérica pic.twitter.com/OR2GZxeLIT
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) July 11, 2021
Rodrigo De Paul who impressed mightily during the Copa America 2021 said that Messi was “the best player of all time” and beating Brazil at Maracana “exceeds all expectations.” Angel Di Maria, who scored the only goal of the Copa America final said, “We dreamed so much, we fought so much to achieve this. It’s unforgettable. Messi told me thanks to me and I told him thanks to him. He told me it would be my final, that it would be the revenge for the finals I couldn’t play. It had to be today and it was.”
Por que siempre vale la pena INTENTARLO…… pic.twitter.com/1gKy5wjQbt
— Javier Mascherano (@Mascherano) July 11, 2021
Emiliano Martinez, Argentina penalty hero said that while winning a title with Argentina was a dream, he wanted to do his best for Lionel Messi. After the Copa America 2021 success, the Aston Villa shot-stopped said, “I said I’d rather have it won for him [Messi] than for me. Today, we were able to give it to him. It was what he wanted the most in his life.”
Former Barcelona teammate Neymar also joined up with Messi to congratulate him and celebrate his first international success despite his heartbreak with Brazil in the final.
Love this!
Seriously love this! #Messi #Neymar #CopaAmerica. https://t.co/aLunDfQ6Af— Roberto Abramowitz (@RobAbramowitz) July 11, 2021
Absolutely beautiful from #Neymar and #Messi 😄
🤝#Neymar congratulating #Messi for winning the #CopaAmericaFINAL 16 years after debuting for #Argentina and ending the 28-year trophy drought for #Argentina is CLASSY 🏆#CopaAmerica2021
— Philip Alimo (@alimo_philip) July 11, 2021
The streets of Lionel Messi’s two homes — in Buenos Aires and Barcelona — too celebrated. COVID-19 restrictions could not stop Argentine fans to celebrate the victory. A large crowd erupted on the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate the triumph.
Milhares de torcedores vão chegando no Obelisco, em Buenos Aires, para celebrar a conquista da Argentina na Copa América.
via @asenjo88 pic.twitter.com/q5mWZqYw2m
— O Canto das Torcidas (@OCantoOficial) July 11, 2021
What it means to us Barcelona fans, for Argentina and Messi to win the Copa America .
Celebrating in the streets of Barcelona at 4am!
via @fgarriga pic.twitter.com/i7CvhroZYn— Aurun50 🇧🇹| 🇳🇵| 🇪🇸 | 🇨🇦 (@BhattaraiAurun) July 11, 2021
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