Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino saw Brazil to a 2-0 win over Argentina in the Copa America semifinals on Tuesday night as the host nation booked a spot in their first Copa final since 2007.

The result means that Argentina's Lionel Messi is still without a trophy during his international career with La Albiceleste despite having playing in three finals for his country.

Brazil, who have won every Copa America hosted on their home soil, scored first when Jesus turned home Firmino's low cross after some nice build-up play to make it 1- 0.

Sergio Aguero nearly got Argentina back on level terms on the half-hour, but his looping header from a Messi free kick hit off the crossbar after going over the outstretched arms of Alisson in the Brazil goal.

Down 1-0 at the start of the second half, Argentina were able to force the action a little more than in the first half and came closest to an equaliser on 66 minutes when Messi forced a fine save from Alisson.

Soon after, Brazil doubled their lead when Jesus set up Firmino for tap in after a mazy run from midfield in which he held off several defenders before squaring to the Liverpool striker.

Brazil now await the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal between Chile and Peru to determine their opponent for the final in Rio at the Maracana on July 7.

https://africa.espn.com/football/report?gameId=548054

Chai what a SHE goat!

Brazil players celebrate a goal against Argentina.

Believe it or not , this is the best Argentina have played in a while , Survived an initial onslaught and took the fight to Brazil; could’ve had a few goals. Nothing to be down or ashamed about, in fact, I see quite a few positives they can take away.

Now hopefully the Federation resolves their issues and appoints a good coach – and most importantly – sticks with him for a couple years. And I really think this new set of players can win the next Copa America, do well in Qualifiers, and make a fight of it at the next WC too.

Really hope Messi doesn’t retire either, both he and the team looked the best they have in quite a while.

Such a horrible night for the GOAT....

Chai

Son:- Dad stop giving excuses
Just tell them the retirement date






Modified:
Want to dedicate this front page to my bae who’s starting her exams 2day...just wanna wish u flying colors..

CHRISDMANAGER:
Chai what a SHE goat!

The same reason why Victor Moses is better than Kanu!!!

International trophy!!!

chiboy1116:
Believe it or not , this is the best Argentina have played in a while , Survived an initial onslaught and took the fight to Brazil; could’ve had a few goals. Nothing to be down or ashamed about, in fact, I see quite a few positives they can take away.

Now hopefully the Federation resolves their issues and appoints a good coach – and most importantly – sticks with him for a couple years. And I really think this new set of players can win the next Copa America, do well in Qualifiers, and make a fight of it at the next WC too.

Really hope Messi doesn’t retire either, both he and the team looked the best they have in quite a while.

I agree with you!!!
100%, the better team win...

Messi is still the GOAT despite this semi final loss!!

From Allison to G. Jesus, Brazil team are complete and deserves to go through!!

Ronaldo right now be like

CalabarPikin:
Such a horrible night for the GOAT....

It is not horrible..
They didn't lose to Peru...

They lost to a better team..

Nonstoprain:
Ronaldo right now be like

Irrelevant comparison!!!

Messi should just about retire and call it quit with the national team. Other than being a shadow of his Barcelona self in the team, he is massively considered ahead of players who'd make better impact in the team.

No doubt, Brazil was the better team on the pitch, he is 32 and just about has nothing to offer the Argentinian national team again. He couldn't at his best and won't do so when he is old.

His focus and whatever is left of him should be channeled towards Barcelona.

This news is sweet sha!

eni4real:
It is not horrible..
They didn't lose to Peru...

They lost to a better team..

Peru, Brazil, Chile, what does it matter? Chile dropped Argentina on two different occasions in the final.

Argentina shouldn't even have made it this far had Paraguay not lost that second half penalty after Argentina converted theirs.

They lost. That is all that counts right now.

where is that Aguero that wanted to win Copa America for messi

The result is a foregone conclusion.Argentina from the outset stood no chance Brazil judging by how shambolic and disjointed the Argentine team is.I really feel pity for Messi.There is no gainsaying the fact that he did his best but his unreliable teammates were not in synchrony with him.His woes with his national team continues which put him in a quandary between going into retirement or remaining in an unharmonious team characterized by paucity of cohesion and collective play.
As far as I'm concerned,both options are unfavourable to him.If messi retires without winning any trophy with national team,that is indirectly makes his arch-rival the G.O.A.T of all time.Conversely,if he should remain in this present unproductive Argentine team,I don't envisage his winning any major trophy neither regardless of who is at the helm of affairs as the coach because the problem buffeting this Argentine team is deep-seated.There is a clamorous need for total overhaul of the Argentine team which will take an appreciable amount of time to effect.
Probably,messi would be ruing why he did not opt to play for Spain when he had the chance to.

eni4real:
Irrelevant comparison!!!

who is comparing them, I am only saying that Ronaldo will be happy to see Messi miss another opportunity to lift an international trophy, so please always read between the lines before you jump to conclusions.

Thank you.

"Messi is like WiFi, he does not work well outside of Camp Nou" ... Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Omo the headline sweet. d"drought continues"brutal
Argentina and their goat don't have balls unlike the real GOAT who has won everywhere

chiboy1116:
Believe it or not , this is the best Argentina have played in a while , Survived an initial onslaught and took the fight to Brazil; could’ve had a few goals. Nothing to be down or ashamed about, in fact, I see quite a few positives they can take away.

Now hopefully the Federation resolves their issues and appoints a good coach – and most importantly – sticks with him for a couple years. And I really think this new set of players can win the next Copa America, do well in Qualifiers, and make a fight of it at the next WC too.

Really hope Messi doesn’t retire either, both he and the team looked the best they have in quite a while.

How many chances is Messi going to get or excuses Messi fan boys or girls are going to make? Yes Messi played better but not at the high level that he exhibits at Camp Nou. His free kicks were very timid. I expected him to score the one in the second half. He just does not deliver under pressure - period!

Thales01:
[b] The result is a foregone conclusion.Argentina from the outset stood no chance Brazil judging by how shambolic and disjointed the Argentine team is.I really feel pity for Messi.There is no gainsaying the fact that he did his best but his unreliable teammates were not in synchrony with him.His woes with his national team continues which put him in a quandary between going into retirement or remaining in an unharmonious team characterized by paucity of cohesion and collective play.
As far as I'm concerned,both options are unfavourable to him.If messi retires without winning any trophy with national team,that is indirectly makes his arch-rival the G.O.A.T of all time.Conversely,if he should remain in this present unproductive Argentine team,I don't envisage his winning any major trophy neither regardless of who is the helm of affairs as the coach because the problem buffeting this Argentine team is deep-seated.There is a clamorous need for total overhaul of the Argentine team which will take an appreciable amount of time to effect.
Probably,messi would ruing why he did not opt to play for Spain when he had the chance to.
[/b]

In as much as you exquisitely presented your opinion, I cannot totally be in agreement. For one, Messi like all his teammates was a disappointment in the competition to say the least. At the height of Barca's disappointing displays, we have witnessed Messi single handedly bailing them, same cannot be say at what he did here. If other players were not stepping up, it was part of his duty to make them do so, more so as the captain and star player. We cannot continue blaming the federation, teammates, coach and any other thing we can lay hands on, at each Messi's failure with the national team. In fact he should take the biggest share of blames as he takes the praises when there are little successes.

eni4real:
The same reason why Victor Moses is better than Kanu!!!

International trophy!!!

Stop deceiving urself... Ur guy can't perform outside Barca... U guys keep on making excuses for him... He was extremely poor in this tournament...no assist, just one penalty...

Thales01:
[b] The result is a foregone conclusion.Argentina from the outset stood no chance Brazil judging by how shambolic and disjointed the Argentine team is.I really feel pity for Messi.There is no gainsaying the fact that he did his best but his unreliable teammates were not in synchrony with him.His woes with his national team continues which put him in a quandary between going into retirement or remaining in an unharmonious team characterized by paucity of cohesion and collective play.
As far as I'm concerned,both options are unfavourable to him.If messi retires without winning any trophy with national team,that is indirectly makes his arch-rival the G.O.A.T of all time.Conversely,if he should remain in this present unproductive Argentine team,I don't envisage his winning any major trophy neither regardless of who is the helm of affairs as the coach because the problem buffeting this Argentine team is deep-seated.There is a clamorous need for total overhaul of the Argentine team which will take an appreciable amount of time to effect.
Probably,messi would ruing why he did not opt to play for Spain when he had the chance to.
[/b]

Trash...u just posted trash....that team have really really tried for him ..... More than what Portugal have done for Ronaldo

The only way Argentina can achieve their full potential is to remove Messi from the squad.

Beverlyjean:


Trash...u just posted trash....that team have really really tried for him ..... More than what Portugal have done for Ronaldo

My dear, don't compare Ronaldo to Messi on a national level. It is an unfair comparison. I'd comfortably weigh Messi with the likes of Mikel as long as he dons the Argentinian jersey.

Even at the club level, we know one is super dynamic while the other would always remain a Barcelona wonder. Anything beyond Barcelona is Aiyegbenic

The real Messi didn't leave Barcelona to play in Argentina. He never did.

Lolssssss.....

Casa dolce casa

Sanchez01:

My dear, don't compare Messi to Ronaldo on a national level. It is an unfair comparison. I'd comfortably weigh Messi with the likes of Mikel as long as he dons the Argentinian jersey.

The real Messi didn't leave Barcelona to play in Argentina. He never did.

I seriously don't understand some people... I used to be a Messi fan , but after watching 2010 WC , that was when I started suspecting that he might b a fraud... I can't understand how some people will compare a man that has won major trophies with 3 different clubs and 2major trophies with his national team...not like his national team is Germany, Spain or France... They compare him with someone that has only won trophies in one single league... It's certain that if this guy leaves Barca, he will show his Argentina form in any other club...

Thales01:
[b] The result is a foregone conclusion.Argentina from the outset stood no chance Brazil judging by how shambolic and disjointed the Argentine team is.I really feel pity for Messi.There is no gainsaying the fact that he did his best but his unreliable teammates were not in synchrony with him.His woes with his national team continues which put him in a quandary between going into retirement or remaining in an unharmonious team characterized by paucity of cohesion and collective play.
As far as I'm concerned,both options are unfavourable to him.If messi retires without winning any trophy with national team,that is indirectly makes his arch-rival the G.O.A.T of all time.Conversely,if he should remain in this present unproductive Argentine team,I don't envisage his winning any major trophy neither regardless of who is the helm of affairs as the coach because the problem buffeting this Argentine team is deep-seated.There is a clamorous need for total overhaul of the Argentine team which will take an appreciable amount of time to effect.
Probably,messi would ruing why he did not opt to play for Spain when he had the chance to.
[/b]

If at 32, you think Messi would pull a Houdini in Argentina and lead the team to glory, then I'd say you just about have no idea who Messi is. At his finest, he couldn't even play to save them. The only two times he has scored and Argentina defeated Brazil were in friendly matches where Brazil featured youngsters.

Messi is way past his prime. He plays with lack of motivation these days, even in Barcelona. No one can blame him for hitting 32 and we certainly can't compare him to Ronaldo. It is unfair. Ronaldo is hungry and competitive, Messi is not. Messi would be 35 by the next WC which means he would have greatly declined if not retired already.

Ronaldo and Messi were compared at some point for not having national honours to their names but it changed in an instant for Ronaldo. At the Euro final, one would wonder why an 'old man' would cry like a child over injury, only to come out and take over as the coach.

Genius doesn't cut it in football. If you don't strive, the best hardworking player will overtake you. Such is the case of Messi and Ronaldo. History would no doubt be kind to Messi. He couldn't step up when the world focused on him the most and this he did severally.

You can imagine sports analysts saying Liverpool would not have been able to walk away with their comeback win if Ronaldo was in the Barcelona team. Messi was once brilliant and still might remain so in Barcelona but I don't see him doing wonders for Argentina at 35. I just don't.

eni4real:
I agree with you!!!
100%, the better team win...

Messi is still the GOAT despite this semi final loss!!

From Allison to G. Jesus, Brazil team are complete and deserves to go through!!

Abeg cut the goat crap. Na u crown am?

Beverlyjean:

I seriously don't understand some people... I used to be a Messi fan , but after watching 2010 WC , that was when I started suspecting that he might b a fraud... I can't understand how some people will compare a man that has won major trophies with 3 different clubs and 2major trophies with his national team...not like his national team is Germany, Spain or France... They compare him with someone that has only won trophies in one single league... It's certain that if this guy leaves Barca, he will show his Argentina form in any other club...

When Pele referred to Ronaldo as the greatest player in the world, I had my reservations because I know the beauty of his game is always blurred with Messi's comparison. I felt he would drive himself nuts and lose it but I was wrong and it seemed Pele saw the future.

Horrible performance at the Copa, a humiliating defeat in the Champions League and Barcelona fanboys are still saying he is next in line for another Ballon d'Or.

ReeLoaDead:
How many chances is Messi going to get or excuses Messi fan boys or girls are going to make? Yes Messi played better but not at the high level that he exhibits at Camp Nou. His free kicks were very timid. I expected him to score the one in the second half. He just does not deliver under pressure - period!

how does this change what I just said ? Messi doesn't deliver under pressure? Okay . But I saw the Brazilian team and the Argentine team . And Messi doesn't deliver under pressure? I give up bro .

eni4real:
I agree with you!!!
100%, the better team win...

Messi is still the GOAT despite this semi final loss!!

From Allison to G. Jesus, Brazil team are complete and deserves to go through!!

honestly those small boys surprised me . They played their heart , but the defence was really poor , otamendi just isn't good