For Messi, 34, time is running out to win a first major international title with his national team, having previously lost in three Copa finals and the 2014 World Cup final.
For once he wasn’t his country’s main hero, although he did create the opening goal for Lautaro Martinez on seven minutes, before Luis Diaz equalized just after the hour mark.
In the shoot-out, goalkeeper Martinez three times dived to his left to save penalties from center-backs Davinson Sanchez and Yerry Mina, as well as midfielder Edwin Cardona.
And although Rodrigo De Paul skied his penalty for Argentina, Messi — who finished with blood seeping visibly from his left ankle – was amongst the scorers to give them a 3-2 victory on spot-kicks.
Saving penalties “is a question of luck and today it was my turn to be the glorious one”, said Martinez.
“We said it the first day, we want to play the final and what better than playing Brazil on their pitch.”
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Outstanding buy for Villa.
@john howard: and outstanding loss for Arsenal
Wow
Extended highlights of the game show the atrocious tackles that got put in on Messi. Battled on with bloody ankles in fairness. The man is in some of the best form of his life. Like a fine wine.
Sadly I don’t see them beating Brazil and the Ronaldo sharade will still claim he’s better due to his international record and Euro win which is chronically over exagerrated. Has 40+ goals of his 100 and odd against teams not in the Fifa top 100 nations.
@Brian Timmons: delighted for Messi but why have a go at Ronaldo?
Anybody that understands anything about football can acknowledge that both players are genius’s and both deserve the many plaudits they’ve rightfully earned. It’s charade and not sharade by the way.
@Aidan Prior: I think to be fair, if Messi had played in England, people on this side of the world would recognise how far ahead of everyone he is.
I watch la liga religiously and seen a lot of both Ronaldo and Messi.
Messi by a country mile and that’s no disrespect to CR7.
The Colombians had 6 yellow cards in the game-all six fouls were on you know who. The man was battered last night, nasty looking ankle injury he picked up