England football icon David Beckham has paid tribute to Lionel Messi, calling him a 'credit to himself' and an 'inspiration for millions' after the Argentina legend announced his retirement from international football.
Peru beat Paraguay 2-0 at the Copa America on Friday to ensure they finished in third place.
The Copa America 2021 championship final will be played between Brazil and Argentina from 05:30 am IST Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
James Rodriguez scored one goal and set up two more as Colombia thoroughly dismantled Panama in a 5-0 win at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday to march into the Copa America semi-finals.
Argentina won their first major title in 28 years on Saturday after Angel Di Maria's goal gave them a 1-0 win over Brazil and a record-equalling 15th Copa America, at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday.
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is in doubt for next month's Copa America.
Argentina's veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi has announced his retirement from international football after a 17-year career, which included winning the 2022 World Cup and two Copa America titles.
Next year's Copa America in Chile will give Brazil the chance to bury the ghosts of their miserable World Cup, the president of the country's soccer federation said.
Brazil assumed responsibility for hosting the Copa America, South America's equivalent of the European Championship, on May 31, less than two weeks before the tournament kicked off.
Peru advanced to the final of the Copa America and a date with hosts Brazil after beating reigning champions Chile 3-0 on Wednesday.
The federation has confirmed that they are flying players in from their domestic league
Images from Copa America matches played on Monday.
Brazil continued their perfect start to the Copa America as goals from Alex Sandro, Neymar, Everton Ribeiro and Richarlison gave them a 4-0 win over Peru
Argentina's Lionel Messi has unfinished business going into the Centenary Copa America that is being staged in the United States with the Barcelona star keen to help his nation capture a first major title in 23 years.
Brazil forward Ronaldinho has asked to be left out of the squad for the Copa America because he is tired, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Tuesday.
Peru produced a shock 3-0 win over Uruguay while Bolivia twice fought back to draw 2-2 with hosts Venezuela in a dramatic opening to the Copa America on Tuesday.
'Whenever I talk with Leo, we always say 'Pray that one day it happens for us'. It's what he wants and it's what we all want. I put myself in his shoes and I want to do the best'
Defending champions Brazil beat Ecuador 1-0 to complete the quarter-final line-up at the Copa America.
Peru's Claudio Pizarro scored a late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw against Bolivia at the Copa America.
Mexico striker Nery Castillo scored a sublime goal to set his team on their way to a shock 2-0 win over defending champions Brazil.
Ronaldo has not played for his country since Dunga took over following the World Cup last year.
Lionel Messi trained alongside his Argentina team-mates at the Copa America Centenario as he targets a return from injury in his team's second Group D game against Panama. Messi, who has been nursing a sore back after sustaining an injury in a friendly against Honduras last month, has trained separately under the supervision of team medical staff since arriving in the United States. However the 28-year-old Barcelona superstar took part in a full training session on Wednesday at the University of Illinois campus, two days after sitting out Argentina's opening 2-1 victory over Chile in Santa Clara on Monday.
Uruguay eliminated Mexico from the Copa America Tuesday to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Argentina, while Chile finished top of Group C after a 1-0 win over Peru.
Thiago Silva and Roberto Firmino scored either side of halftime to fire Brazil to a 2-1 win over Venezuela at the Copa America.
Messi was Argentina's key man in their 1-0 win.
Colombia head to Copa semis after penalties win over Uruguay
Chile's euphoria at reaching the final of the Copa America was tempered by the reminder that every time they have been in this position before they have finished as runners-up.
South America's top football competition kicked off on Thursday amid fireworks and razzmatazz.
Copa America kicks off in Chile on Thursday as a widening US-led investigation lifts the lid on rampant corruption among the sport's top officials.
Antonela Roccuzzo, Lionel Messi's wife, shared a poignant Instagram message, expressing immense pride in his international career, not just for his achievements but for his resilience and the journey their children witnessed.
Diego Forlan, the former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid forward, has been named the new head coach for Uruguay's senior and Under-20 national football teams. He replaces Marcelo Bielsa, who left after Uruguay's early exit from the World Cup. Forlan, a celebrated player and 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner, will bring his experience and leadership to the role, starting with the Under-20 squad.
Brazil coach Mano Menezes has named injured pair Paulo Henrique Ganso and Alexandre Pato in his 22-man squad for the Copa America.
Kaka has dropped out of the Brazil squad for the Centenary Copa America due to injury and will be replaced by Paulo Henrique Ganso, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said.
The result means Ecuador have one point from two games in Group B and Venezuela have two points from three.
The 'Noodle' has broken again with Angel Di Maria injured during a third consecutive major tournament playing for Argentina at the end of a busy club season.
Argentina, bidding to end a trophy drought, kicked off the 43rd Copa America with a disappointing 1-1 draw with minnows Bolivia at La Plata outside Buenos Aires.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi pulled his side level in the 57th minute after a handball by Paraguay's Ivan Peris which no-one on the pitch appealed for but was spotted by a VAR review.
Argentina shrugged off the injury absence of Lionel Messi to launch their Copa America Centenario campaign with a 2-1 defeat of defending champions Chile in Santa Clara, United States on Monday. Goals from Angel Di Maria and Ever Banega secured a deserved three points for Argentina, who exacted sweet revenge for their defeat to the Chileans in last year's Copa America final. Chile substitute Jose Fuenzalida scored an injury time consolation for the holders. The Argentines will now be firm favorites to progress to the quarter-finals as Group D winners with games against Panama and Bolivia to come. Injured Argentina captain Messi watched from the substitutes' bench at Levi's Stadium after failing to recover in time from a sore back suffered in a friendly win over Honduras last month. But the Barcelona superstar's absence was barely noticeable, with Nicolas Gaitan slotting into Argentina's attack and making an instant impression, hitting the woodwork with a header after only two minutes.
Uruguay defender Diego Lugano, whose missed penalty led to the semi-final defeat against Brazil, was sent off and gave away a penalty as his side lost 3-1 to Mexico in the Copa America third-place match on Saturday.
Gabriel got the winning kick for Brazil after Gustavo Gomez and Derlis Gonzalez missed for the visitors. Roberto Firmino pulled his spot kick wide for the hosts.
