This archive report was first published on 12 July 2021.
On July 12, 2021, Lionel Messi led Argentina to a historic Copa America title, defeating Brazil in the final. In a heartfelt message on Instagram, Messi dedicated the triumph to his loved ones, his country, and the late football legend Diego Maradona.
"I want to dedicate this success to my family, who have always given me the strength to continue, to my friends whom I love so much, to all the people who support us and above all to 45 million Argentinians who have suffered so with this dreadful virus," Messi wrote.
Argentina's Copa America victory marked the country's first continental honour in 28 years, and Messi's first major trophy with the national team. The win was a significant moment for Messi, who had been desperate to lead the side to glory after a series of disappointments at World Cups and the Copa.
However, the celebrations were low-key due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed over 100,000 lives in Argentina. The country has been struggling to contain the spread of the virus, and the football federation has not organized any large-scale celebrations.
Despite the restrictions, thousands of fans took to the streets to congratulate the team, with Messi urging them to continue taking care of each other and to use the happiness of the win to gather strength to fight the virus together.
