Argentina ended a 28-year wait for a Copa America title courtesy of a 1-0 win over Brazil on Saturday, with Lionel Messi winning his first international trophy.

Brazil came unchanged from Monday’s semi-final win over Peru, but Cristian Romero, Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Acuna, Leonardo Paredes and Angel Di Maria featured for Argentina.

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Following a passive opening, Argentina had the breakthrough at the midway point after Rodrigo De Paul played a superb ball for Di Maria to go on and lob goalkeeper Ederson Moraes.

This sparked the Albiceleste into a frenzy and a second beckoned following the half-hour mark through talisman Lionel Messi, but he witnessed his low strike towards the bottom-corner go wide.

Brazil began to urge forward three minutes to halftime after Everton Ribeiro turned inside to get a shot away which Emiliano Martinez covered effectively.

After Roberto Firmino replaced Fred, the holders looked to have gone level seven minutes from the break through Richarlison, who slotted home a loose ball from a rash clearance by Nicolas Otamendi but the flag went up.

Then minutes kater, Martinez was called into action to thwart Richarlison from a surging pass into the right-hand channel by Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar Junior.

Brazil continued to threaten the Albiceleste inside the last 20 minutes as Lucas Paqueta collected a pass from Neymar to have a go from a promising area, but Martinez saved.

Thiago Silva urged forward too with five minutes remaining after he nodded a cross from Neymar following a corner-kick well over the top of target.

Messi could’ve capped off the evening moments to the end with a one-on-one from a ball by De Paul but Ederson parried quickly, however, the Albiceleste still held on to claim the title for the first time since 1993.