As Argentina hopes to end its 28-year drought for a major international tournament trophy, Lionel Messi, regarded by many as the best ever, will clash with former teammate Neymar, in the Copa America final, which holds on Sunday. Can Lionel Messi claim his first major title with his national team?
Argentina will take on their arch-rivals Brazil in the final of Copa America 2021 on Sunday at 1:00 AM Nigerian Time. Also known as the Battle of the Americas, the match will see superstars of world football fight against each other. The final will be played at Brazil’s iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Although Brazil won the last edition in 2019, Argentina has a better overall record with 14 titles compared to Brazil’s 9. However, their last Copa America title was in 1993. Since then, Messi & Co have lost 4 Copa America finals and one World Cup final. The Barcelona legend has won everything at the club level, both in personal and team capacity, but has missed a major title with his country apart from a 2008 gold medal in the Olympics.
PSG and Brazilian star Neymar also have never won either of the two major football titles. He was out with injury in the 2019 Copa America which Brazil won.
There can’t be a bigger match than Argentina vs Brazil. These two teams have given the world names such as Pele, Maradona, Messi, Fernando Redondo, Gabriel Batistuta, Garrincha, Zico, Romario, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, among many others. They have a rivalry that goes back more than 100 years. Both of them have 7 World Cup titles between them and 25 Copa America titles. Both teams will be desperate to win the title.
The 34-year-old Messi has 10 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League medals and 6 Ballon d’Or awards. Can he finally add his first major international title?
In the Copa America tournament, Argentina has won 15 matches out of a total of 33. Brazil won in 10 matches.
Key players in the Argentine team are, Messi, Angel Di Maria, Emiliano Martínez, Lautaro Martínez, Sergio Agüero, Leandro Paredes
In Brazil, the key prayers are,vNeymar, Thiago Silva, Lucas Paquetá, Casemiro, Fred, Roberto Firmino