Argentina and Prais St-Germain star player Lionel Messi bagged another trophy to his national trophy collections as his side beat European champions Italy 3-0 to lift the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions previously known officially as the European/South American Nations Cup is an official super cup football match organized by UEFA and CONMEBOL. It is usually contested by the winners of the UEFA European Championship and Copa América winners.
Lionel Messi wins CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup
Organized as a quadrennial one-off match, it is a national team equivalent to the former Intercontinental Cup featuring the club champions of Europe and South America. The competition was held twice in 1985 and 1993 before being discontinued. The competition was relaunched starting in 2022, after the signing of a memorandum. Lionel Messi and Angel di Maria shone as Argentina beat Italy at Wembley in the Final of the renewal of the contest between the champions of Europe and South America.
Lionel Messi’s run and cross set up the opener for Lautaro Martinez, who then turned provider for Di Maria to chip a second the second. Substitute Paulo Dybala rounded off the scoring in the injury time as the game ended 3-0. Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini played the first half of what was his 118th and final international match. The contest is the first between the two continental champions in 29 years.
It is a revival of the Artemio Franch Cup, competed for twice before – in 1985, when France beat Uruguay, ay and in 193, when Argentina beat Denmark on penalties. Argentina’s victory in front of 87,112 continues their remarkable run of results since June 2019.
They have been unbeaten in 32 matches, winning their first Copa America in 28 years and cruising through qualification for the World Cup in Qatar in the process. Their side at Wembley showcased a host of elite global talent, including a stellar front three of Di Maria, Mart,inez,, and Messi, who was a menace throughout with their movement and neat interplay.
Outgoing Paris St-Germain star Di Maria and Messi we’re the players who stood out. Inside two minutes, Di Maria was attempting to lob his club’s teammate Donnarumma from close to halfway. By the end of the first half, he had scored a magnificent chip to follow up Martinez’s opener, created by Messi. It is 36 years since Argentina won the World Cup. With this side, marrying its undoubted talent with a super work reiterate, they would appear to have an excellent chance of ending their wait for a third global crown.
Lionel Messi’s performance was at odds with his first season in French football, in which he has only scored 11 times – his lowest return in 16 years. But he thrived in an atmosphere fuelled by vocal Argentine support. After the game, he said: “We knew it was going to be a nice match and a nice setting to be champion.” “It was a beautiful final, full of Argentines. What we experienced here was beautiful.”
