Superstar Lionel Messi won his first trophy with his national team as Angel Di Maria&rsquo;s goal gave Argentina a 1-0 win over hosts Brazil in the Copa America final on Saturday.&nbsp;
The victory at Rio de Janeiro&rsquo;s Maracana stadium ended Argentina&rsquo;s 28-year wait for a major trophy, and also ended Brazil&rsquo;s unbeaten home record that stretched back more than 2,500 days.&nbsp;
<h2>&lsquo;Great title&rsquo;</h2>
Argentina had last tasted success at a major tournament in 1993 when the great Gabriel Batistuta&rsquo;s brace gave them a 2-1 win over Mexico in the Copa final in Ecuador. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great title, especially for our people. The fans support the team unconditionally. I think they can identify with this team that never gives in,&rdquo; said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.&nbsp;
It was the first time in six editions playing at home that Brazil had failed to lift the trophy. And while 34-year-old Messi&rsquo;s odyssey has come to an end, Brazil&rsquo;s Neymar, five years his junior, is still without a major title at international level having missed the Selecao&rsquo;s win on home soil two years ago through injury.&nbsp; Argentina edged a brutal and fractious affair thanks to Di Maria&rsquo;s goal on 22 minutes. The 33-year-old winger ran onto Rodrigo De Paul&rsquo;s sumptuous through ball to lob Brazil goalkeeper Ederson with a first time finish.&nbsp;
Messi could have wrapped up the win two minutes from time but slipped when clean through with only Ederson to beat. &ldquo;We have to be big enough to recognise [the defeat] regardless of how painful and difficult it is,&rdquo; said Brazil coach Tite.
In a frantic start, Argentina&rsquo;s burly enforcer Nicolas Otamendi was quickly in with his first foul while Brazilian midfielder Fred picked up the first booking after just three minutes for a studs up lunge at Gonzalo Montiel. Brazil were unchanged from their semi-final win over Peru while Scaloni made five alterations, notably bringing in Di Maria&mdash;who made an energetic and decisive entry off the bench against Colombia last time out.&nbsp;
<h2>First chance</h2>
The first clear chance came on 13 minutes as Richarlison headed down Marquinhos&rsquo;s long ball into the path of Neymar but the Brazilian star was crowded out by a pair of defenders. The brutal nature of the early challenges could be seen on the players&rsquo; kits, with Neymar sporting ripped shorts and Lucas Paqueta being left with a hole in his sock following an intervention by Otamendi. Argentina played with aggression and commitment, but no lack of quality with Di Maria tormenting Brazil.
4 No. of goals scored by Argentina&rsquo;s Lionel Messi and Colombia&rsquo;s Luis D&iacute;az to finish as Copa America&rsquo;s top scorers
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Superstar Lionel Messi experiences maiden title for his country who end their 28-year trophy drought by beating Brazil 1-0 in Copa America final

Finally...Argentina

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