London, 2 June 2022 (TDI): Argentina beat Italy to win the 2022 Finalissima, the third edition of the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions.

The Cup of Champions features a match between the winners of the UEFA European Football Championship and the CONMEBAL Copa America.

Italy was the winner of the UEFA Euro 2020 (which took place in 2021 due to Covid19), which it won against England. Whereas Argentina won the 2021 Copa America against Brazil.

The Finalissima took place in Wembley Stadium in London on 1st June. Argentina won the match by 3–0 for the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions title for the second time.

Previously, Argentina won the title in the second edition played in 1993 in Mar del Plata. However, the championship was discontinued.

In 2020, the UEFA and CONMEBOL signed an MoU to increase sports cooperation, after which the championship resumed this year.

Around 87,000 people turned up in the stadium to watch the best teams of the two continents clash.

The Game

Lautaro Martinez and Angel di Maria scored two goals for Argentina in the first half of the game. These goals gave early dominance to the South American team, boosting their morale.

Argentine footballer Martinez scored a goal from a close range from Messi’s low cross. Lionel Messi set up the two goals with excellent coordination among the team.

Paulo Dybala had the final goal for Argentina leading the team into a clear win. He scored with a drilled low finish in stoppage time as again Messi set the stage with his remarkable dribble.

Lionel Messi, one of the most famous and iconic football players, was declared the man of the match. Moreover, he was also the captain of the Argentine team.

Italian players played well but couldn’t manage to get past their Argentine counterparts to score a goal.

Captain Messi expressed after the match, “Today was a nice test because Italy are a great team. We knew it was going to be a nice game and a nice setting in which to be champions.”

He further expressed gratitude to the Argentine fans filling the stadium to support the national team. “It was a beautiful final, full of Argentines. What we experienced here was beautiful,” He said.

The captain of the Italian national team, Roberto Mancini recognized that his team needs more work.

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