Argentina’s unforgettable campaign at the CONMEBOL Copa America 2021™ is marked by significant milestones. After a 28-year drought, the Albiceleste triumphantly ended their titleless streak at the Maracanã Stadium. Di María, renowned for his crucial goals for the Argentine national team, played a pivotal role in securing their 15th CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy.
Led by coach Lionel Scaloni and guided by Lionel Messi’s on-field leadership, Argentina showcased their dominance throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten with 5 wins and 2 draws. Their exceptional performance culminated in a victory over host Brazil in the final at the Maracanã Stadium, allowing them to claim their 15th championship title.
Argentina 1-1 Chile – Group Stage
This triumph in the CONMEBOL Copa America 2021™ served as a significant stepping stone for Argentina’s ultimate quest for glory as world champions in Qatar 2022. On June 14th, the Albiceleste commenced their journey in Group A of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2021™️, securing a 1-1 draw against Chile with an impressive free-kick goal delivered by Lionel Messi at Rio de Janeiro’s Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium.
Argentina 1-0 Uruguay – Group Stage
During the second round of the Group Stage, Argentina achieved a 1-0 victory over Uruguay at the Mané Garrincha National Stadium in Brasília on June 18. Lionel Messi showcased a brilliant performance and played a pivotal role in Guido Rodríguez’s goal by delivering a remarkable cross. This triumph provided the Albiceleste with an opportunity to secure a spot in the knockout stage by securing one more victory.
Argentina 1-0 Paraguay – Group Stage
Argentina continued their winning streak with another 1-0 victory, this time against Paraguay in the 3rd round. This crucial triumph, achieved at the Mané Garrincha National Stadium on June 21, provided a significant boost to the Argentine team’s aspirations. ‘Papu’ Gómez found the back of the net just 10 minutes into the first half, securing Scaloni’s team a place in the next stage of the tournament.
Bolivia 1-4 Argentina – Group Stage
Argentina ended their Group Stage campaign on June 28, with a 4-1 win over Bolivia at the Arena Pantanal, in Cuiabá. On this day, Lionel Messi became the player with the most appearances for the Albiceleste, with 148 matches. Two goals from the star, one from ‘Papu’ Gómez and another from Lautaro Martínez left Argentina alone at the top of Group A.
Argentina 3-0 Ecuador – Quarter-finals
In the quarter-final match held at the Pedro Ludovico Olympic Stadium in the city of Goiânia on July 3, Argentina faced Ecuador. The team showcased a dominant display, securing a resounding 3-0 victory. The captain, Lionel Messi, played a pivotal role, delivering a magnificent performance. He not only assisted Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez in scoring the first two goals but also converted an incredible free kick during injury time, further cementing Argentina’s commanding win.
Argentina 1 (3)-(2) 1 Colombia – Semifinals
In the highly memorable semi-final encounter of the CONMEBOL Copa America 2021™️, Argentina faced Colombia on July 6 at the Mané Garrincha National Stadium. The match provided immense excitement as both teams battled fiercely, resulting in a 1-1 draw in regulation time. However, Lionel Messi’s team emerged victorious in the penalty shootout, securing a 3-2 win over Colombia.
Emiliano Martínez emerged as the hero of the night in Brasília by saving three penalty kicks during the shootout. His exceptional performance played a crucial role in Argentina’s triumph, solidifying their place in the much-anticipated and highly desired final: Argentina vs. Brazil.
Argentina 1-0 Brazil – Final
In a highly anticipated and unforgettable final, Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 at the Maracanã Stadium to clinch the CONMEBOL Copa América™ championship, ending a 28-year title drought.
Ángel Di María, displaying exceptional skill, secured the only goal of the match in the first half with a superb finish. The goal came after an impressive pass from Rodrigo De Paul, who also played a crucial role for Argentina throughout the night.
The individual performances of several players stood out in the tournament:
- Lionel Messi, as expected, received the Player of the Tournament award. His remarkable contribution of 4 goals (which also earned him the joint top scorer position alongside Colombia’s Luis Díaz) and 5 assists, combined with his leadership in the Argentine squad, established him as the unequivocal standout player of the competition.
- Emiliano Martínez, hailed as a hero in the semi-final against Colombia and delivering an outstanding performance in the final, was honored with the Best Goalkeeper award. In a CONMEBOL Copa América where goalkeepers excelled, Martínez conceded only 2 goals in 6 games and maintained a clean sheet in four of them.
- Cristian Romero displayed remarkable defensive prowess, proving to be an indomitable force against opposing forwards. With an average of 4.7 recoveries per game and zero goals conceded while he was on the pitch, Romero played a vital role in Argentina’s defensive line.
- Rodrigo De Paul was instrumental in Argentina’s midfield, showcasing his abilities by recovering the ball 32 times and creating 6 goal-scoring opportunities. His inch-perfect pass to Ángel Di María’s goal in the final showcased his exceptional vision and playmaking skills.
These outstanding performances from key players propelled Argentina to victory and secured their well-deserved CONMEBOL Copa América™ triumph.