The fact that the previous bearer of the La Finallisima was another Argentina number 10, Diego Maradona, adds to the significance of this victory for Argentina’s number 10.
Argentina’s men’s national team celebrated a 3-0 victory over Italy in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley Stadium, thanks to Lionel Messi’s scintillating football.
In 11 months, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has won his second international trophy with Argentina. The fact that the previous bearer of the La Finallisima was another Argentina number 10, Diego Maradona, adds to the significance of this victory for Argentina’s number 10.
In a one-off meeting of the European and South American champions, the latter came out on top, thanks to a player of the match performance from Lionel Messi, who had previously won the Copa America with a player of the tournament performance.
In the 45 finals he has been in, the 34-year-old has already contributed 46 goals. With the possibility to capture a first World Cup title later this year, Messi shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by his two assists on his record-extending 161st Argentina appearance last night.
“What we saw here was breathtaking,” Messi stated. “We knew it was going to be a great game and a great venue to be champions in.”
In the 28th minute, Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring after Messi produced a superb solo run down the left flank, bringing him past Giovanni Di Lorenzo and leaving his teammate with only a tap-in formality to make it 1-0.
In the final seconds of the first half, Martnez turned creator by threading a through pass for Angel Di Mara, who chipped it past Gianluigi Donnarumma to increase Argentina’s lead while leaving Giorgio Chiellini behind. With 117 caps, the 37-year-old Italy captain made his final appearance for his country.
With barely seconds remaining on the clock, Messi took control on the halfway line and raced to the outside of the penalty area, eluding Di Lorenzo’s challenge to set up substitute Paulo Dybala, who finished low into the net.
Messi had previously won the Champions League Final with Barcelona at Wembley in 2011, defeating Manchester United 3-1 and putting in another player of the match performance. La Albiceleste’s celebrations were similar, as they flung their captain into the air and formed a group around him. They did the same thing after winning the Copa America in Brazil last year.
It was a bittersweet homecoming for the Italians to Wembley Stadium, where they had won the Euro title the year before. For the second year in a row, the Azzuri will be unable to compete in the World Cup.
In November, Argentina, on the other hand, will travel to Qatar with a new trophy, one developed as part of UEFA-CONMEBOL cooperation that challenges FIFA’s worldwide dominance.
Despite the turbulence produced by local fans at the Euro 2020 final, UEFA chose London as the host for the tournament, and 87,000 people packed the arena.