Argentina pulled it off. Lionel Messi and the Albiceleste found a way to beat Brazil on its home soil, 1-0, in the 2021 Copa America championship game to win the first continental title for Argentina since 1993.
For Messi, it was his long-awaited first major trophy with Argentina after he experienced multiple instances of championship final heartbreak with his national team over the years.
It was Angel Di Maria who scored the game-winner at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro (highlights below). His first-half strike stunned the host and held up, as Neymar and Brazil failed to muster many legitimate threats during the match.
In the Copa America third-place match Colombia defeated Peru 3-2 on a dramatic stoppage time goal.
Copa America 2021 standings
Group A table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|
| 1. Argentina- X | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | +5 |
| 2. Uruguay- X | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 |
| 3. Paraguay- X | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 |
| 4. Chile- X | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| Bolivia | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | -8 |
X = advances to quarterfinals
Group A schedule & results
| Date | Match | |
| Mon, June 14 | Argentina 1, Chile 1 | Highlights |
| Mon, June 14 | Paraguay 3, Bolivia 1 | Highlights |
| Fri, June 18 | Chile 1, Bolivia 0 | Highlights |
| Fri, June 18 | Argentina 1, Uruguay 0 | Highlights |
| Mon, June 21 | Uruguay 1, Chile 1 | Highlights |
| Mon, June 21 | Argentina 1, Paraguay 0 | Highlights |
| Thurs, June 24 | Bolivia 0, Uruguay 2 | Highlights |
| Thurs, June 24 | Chile 0, Paraguay 2 | Highilghts |
| Mon, June 28 | Uruguay 1, Paraguay 0 | Highlights |
| Mon, June 28 | Bolivia 1, Argentina 4 | Highlights |
Group B table
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|
| 1. Brazil- X | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 | +8 |
| 2. Peru- X | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 |
| 3. Colombia- X | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 4. Ecuador- X | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -1 |
| Venezuela | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 |
X = advances to quarterfinals
Group B schedule & results
| Date | Match | |
| Sun, June 13 | Brazil 3, Venezuela 0 | Highlights |
| Sun, June 13 | Colombia 1, Ecuador 0 | Highlights |
| Thurs, June 17 | Colombia 0, Venezuela 0 | Highlights |
| Thurs, June 17 | Brazil 4, Peru 0 | Highlights |
| Sun, June 20 | Venezuela 2, Ecuador 2 | Highlights |
| Sun, June 20 | Colombia 1, Peru 2 | Highlights |
| Wed, June 23 | Ecuador 2, Peru 2 | Highlights |
| Wed, June 23 | Brazil 2, Colombia 1 | Highlights |
| Sun, June 27 | Brazil 1, Ecuador 1 | Highlights |
| Sun, June 27 | Venezuela 0, Peru 1 | Highlights |
Quarterfinals
| Date | Match | |
| Fri, July 2 | QF1: Peru 3, Paraguay 3 (4-3 on PKs) | Highlights |
| Fri, July 2 | QF2: Brazil 1, Chile 0 | Highlights |
| Sat, July 3 | QF3: Uruguay 0, Colombia 0 (2-4 on PKs) | Highlights |
| Sat, July 3 | QF4: Argentina 3, Ecuador 0 | Highlights |
Semifinals
| Date | Match | |
| Mon, July 5 | Peru 0, Brazil 1 | Highlights |
| Tues, July 6 | Colombia 1, Argentina 1 (2-3 on PKs) | Highlights |
3rd Place Match
| Date | Match | |
| Fri, July 9 | Peru 2, Colombia 3 | Highlights |
Final
| Date | Match | |
| Sat, July 10 | Brazil 0, Argentina 1 | Highlights |
