Italy vs Argentina: Lionel Messi named Finalissima Player of the Match

Argentina striker Lionel Messi has been named man of the match following his side’s 3-0 win over Italy in the 2022 Finals in London.

The 34-year-old has been selected by a panel of UEFA Technical Observer, who has given Messi the credit for his impressive performances all around him during a high-profile friendly match.

UEFA announced this in a statement on its website on Thursday.

“He was in charge of the game from start to finish. He showed great ability to help Lautaro Martínez, gave his teammates important passes and was unlucky not to score.

“He has played very well for the Wembley crowd. It was a pleasure to watch, ”the statement read.

Messi won the match as Argentina’s Copa America won 3-0 against European champions Italy in the final at Wembley on Wednesday.

Encouraged by the undefeated Messi, Argentina ran ahead with two goals in the first round of a respectable friendly thanks to the strikes of Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria.

Paulo Dybala won Argentina, but after a disappointing season with Paris Saint-Germain with his high standards in the sky, it was Messi’s sight to return to the best of the best.

The 34-year-old, eye-catching player, showed off two assistants and deserved his extraordinary appearance in one of the big football halls.

Thrown into the air by his cheering teammates after the final whistle, Messi said: “Today was a great test because Italy is a great team. We knew it was going to be a good game and a good preparation where we could be champions.

“It was a good final, full of Argentine people. What we saw here was wonderful. ”

It was another unforgettable moment for Argentina, who won this year’s World Cup as it shed light on gold after defeating Brazil who ended its 28-year wait to win the Copa America in 2021.

Argentina has already been established as one of the leading players in World Cup winning and defeating Italy has become another La Albiceleste statement, unbeaten in 32 games.

If Messi can play at this level in Qatar, Lionel Scaloni’s side will be stronger as they chase their first World Cup title since 1986.

“Everything changed after Copa America. Now we enjoy ourselves and things happen very easily. We are happy but we have to keep our feet down, ”said Di Maria.

In Italy, it was a disappointing return to Wembley 11 months after beating England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.

Roberto Mancini’s team has dropped significantly since that victory.

They failed to qualify for the World Cup after a humiliating defeat by North Macedonia in their semi-final.

After the failure of the World Cup, Mancini is moving on to a new generation, with the next United Nations games against Germany, England and Hungary.

Mancini’s reshuffle got off to a good start during the break as Italy bade farewell to 117-year-old captain Giorgio Chiellini, who was sacked in his last game before retiring.

“They were better than us. We were in the game for the first half but we didn’t do enough to turn around after the break, ”said Mancini.

– Messi’s masterpiece –

This was the third Finalissima tournament between the European and South American champions and the first since Diego Maradona’s Argentina beat Denmark in 1993.

Appropriately, Messi – the famous heir of Maradona – used the occasion to remind the world of his amazing talents.

A crowd of 87,000 merchants created a colorful background for Messi’s success, with Argentine fans viciously turning Brent north of London into Buenos Aires overnight.

Every touch of Messi raised decibel levels and he played a key role as Argentina took the lead in the 28th minute.

Messi performed his magic on the ropes, showing great power to catch Giovanni Di Lorenzo before pulling out a direct cross to Martinez, who used his close shot.

In the first half, Martinez advanced with determination and slipped Di Maria with full weight, the PSG striker hitting something high over Donnarumma.

Di Maria almost hit again in an hour, but her curler tightened Donnarumma in an amazing way as the gear shifted to a far corner.

Messi was unstoppable, kidnapping Jorginho and started an amazing race that ended with saving Donnarumma.

Messi’s name echoed in the houses as Argentine fans honored the latest art of their portraits.

Dybala’s strike at the clinic during the stand-off came with the passing of Messi deft as the maestro gave him one final.

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