Argentina 1-0 Brazil: 5 hits and flops as Lionel Messi finally wins an international trophy | Copa America 2021

Hit: Angel Di Maria (Argentina)

Di Maria won the Copa America for Argentina with a beautiful goal!

It was a night of redemption for Angel Di Maria, who erased all the painful memories of the past with a match-winning goal for Argentina. The winger made the most of a mistake from Renan Lodi, who failed to clear the cross and took a sublime first-touch to lob the ball over Ederson.

That wasn't the only time the Argentina winger beat Lodi. The Atletico Madrid full-back was no match for his agility and struggled to keep him in check, while Di Maria also linked up well with Messi on a few occasions.

Dropped several times last month, Angel Di Maria has put Argentina ahead!pic.twitter.com/YRbQUS2OLJ

— Goal (@goal) July 11, 2021

Few players can match his composure in a major final like this, having been a part of a few of them in the past. The man-of-the-match award was just the icing on the cake he spent the night baking.

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Flop: Everton (Brazil)

Everton was of no help to Brazil in the attack

The attacking flair with which Brazil tore sides asunder in this competition was sorely missing tonight, and part of the reason could be Everton's complete anonymity down the left flank.

With zero shots on target, zero shots off target, zero key passes and zero crosses, the Benfica forward was almost like a spectator. He also laid only 11 passes in 63 minutes of action, which begs the question - why didn't Tite replace him at half-time?

Sure, there was no Gabriel Jesus to call upon, but subbing on Everton Ribeiro would've at least guaranteed some urgency, with Roberto Firmino, a half-time substitute, also working hard to make something happen.

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Hit: Neymar (Brazil)

Neymar was in an inspired form again

Last but not least, a word of appreciation for Brazil's talisman, who gave his all today in another top-drawer performance against Argentina, only to see his dreams of lifting a first major international trophy with the Selecao, squished.

The prolific number 10 started as a centre-forward but dropped back to work his creative brilliance, conjuring chance after chance with spectacular throughballs and precise crosses.

Nothing but respect between Messi and Neymar 🤝They share a long hug after the Copa America Final pic.twitter.com/7dudMVsF5l

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 11, 2021

Neymar also registered a mind-boggling 15 dribble attempts, completing nine, a testament to how big a threat he was for Argentina, who had no answer to his wizardry besides rough challenges.

Had it not been for Di Maria's winner, the man-of-the-match award would've surely gone to Neymar, whose sportsman spirit after the game was also admirable.