Thanks as always for following along with us. Be sure to check out the full match report and join us in a few short hours for our requisite coverage of that other game.

Scenes.

Fifty-nine touches. One shot. And a first major trophy for the great Lionel Messi after four runner-up finishes in tournament finals.

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There’s the whistle and Argentina’s 28-year title drought is over! The Albiceleste have won 1-0 over Brazil to capture their 15th Copa América title, moving level with Uruguay for the most ever! Messi is on his knees and his Argentina team-mates have surrounded him by the touchline as a chorus of boos cascade down from the Maracanã stands!

On the other side of the pitch, a tearful Neymar is consoled by his team-mates.

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90 min+3: Firmino is called for a hand ball about 35 yards from Brazil’s goal. Emiliano Martinez takes his good old time setting up the restart. Moments later Ederson makes a fully extended save to deny Argentina.

90 min: The fourth official signals for five added minutes.

89 min: Two more crossed are cleared amid kitchen-sink time for Brazil as Argentina batten down the hatches. Then it’s Argentina on the counter with numbers and Messi is clear on goal ... only to stumble to the ground in a heap.

87 min: Vinicius Junior wins a free kick for Brazil from a dangerous area toward the side of the area. Neymar whips it in and it’s blocked away, but Gabigol’s second-chance attempt is saved by Emiliano Martínez!

84 min: Brazil win a corner after Barbosa close-range chance off a through ball finds the outside netting, but Danilo sends Neymar’s service well over the crossbar.

81 min: Otamendi is shown yellow after vicious tackle of Neymar in the midfield. The players on both sides come together but the flare-up is extinguished and play resumes. High tempers and higher drama in the final reel.

79 min: Argentina counter with three substitutions: Germán Pezzella for Cristian Romero, Exequiel Palacios for the goalscorer Ángel Di María; and Nicolás González for Lautaro Martínez.

77 min: Brazil are finally able to get their substitutions into the match as Emerson comes on for Renan Lodi while Gabriel Barbosa takes Pacqueta’s place.

75 min: Di Maria takes on his defender 1v1 and sails a cross into the box, but it’s headed clear by a defender. The tension continues to build as the seconds tick away.

72 min: Lucas Paqueta is into the book with a yellow for a late tackle. Changes forthcoming for Brazil, who are approaching desperation time.

71 min: Lucas Paqueta runs onto a through ball but he’s well-defended and pulls a shot wide for an Argentina goal kick.

69 min: Brazil win a free kick but nothing comes from it. Moments later, De Paul is shown yellow after bringing down a hard-charging Neymar. The drama builds at the Maracanã.

66 min: Lionel Messi, still on zero goals in his fifth final and 10th major tournament, winds into the area but takes one too many touches and the ball is cleared with Di Maria nearby awaiting a run on goal.

63 min: Two substitutions in the 63rd minute. Argentina’s Nicolás Tagliafico is on for Giovani Lo Celso. For Brazil, Vinicius Junior enters in place of Everton.

56 min: A dangerous chance for Brazil as Neymar has a go from the middle of the area while surrounded by Argentina players. He goes down in a heap ... and the decision from the referee is an offside ruling to the dismay of the hosts.

54 min: A fast and furious sequence over the past few minutes! Brazil appear to equalize though Richarlison, but the goal is correctly disallowed by VAR. Argentina then made a substitution, inserting Guido Rodriguez for Paredes. Then Richarlison nearly scores again, this time from an onside position, but his point-blank shot is parried away by Emiliano Martinez.

50 min: Messi darts into the area and slides it to Di Maria, whose shot is blocked. Brazil are on the counter in the blink of an eye, but Neymar is brought down by Lo Celso, who is promptly showed a yellow for his efforts.

46 min: And we’re under way in the second half. One change to note: Roberto Firmino, who was taken off for Lucas Paqueta at half-time of Brazil’s quarter-final win over Chile, is on for Fred, who picked up a yellow card way back in the third minute. He will be slotted into the Brazil middle three playing further up in more of an attacking position.

Well, well, well. Argentina are halfway home to ending their 28-year trophy hoodoo after Ángel Di María’s gorgeous 22nd-minute goal. That it came despite a conspicuously quiet half from the in-form Lionel Messi will only unnerve Brazil fans more. Should this result hold, it will mark the Seleção’s first Copa América loss on home soil since a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay on 8 May 1949.

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45 min: The fourth official Diego Haro from Peru signals for one minute of stoppage time.

43 min: Brazil win their first corner of the night but it’s cleared from danger. What a stout performance so far from the Argentina trio of De Paul, Paredes and Lo Celso, who have thoroughly bossed Brazil’s midfield from the jump, denying them time and space to operate.

37 min: Di Maria is down with an ankle injury near the goal line. The referee briefly stops play, but the match resumes shortly after and Argentina will continue with 10 men as the medical staff evaluates the goalscorer’s fitness.

34 min: Brazil are right back into the attack only moments after Messi’s missed shot and Neymar wins a free kick about 30 yards from the goal. Neymar’s attempt goes directly into the wall, however.

32 min: A badly misplayed ball out of the back by Argentina but Brazil can’t capitalize, surrendering possession almost immediately. A quick counter-attack ensues with Messi firing in an off-balance shot from just outside the area that skids wide of the goal.

29 min: Di Maria runs directly at Fred (who’s on a yellow) down the right flank. The PSG midfielder has a go from distance and it’s blocked, only to pinball unnervingly around the box before a Brazil defender can clear it.

26 min: Argentina’s keeper Emiliano Martinez is forced to make his first save of the night on a shot from Casemiro, but hardly a dangerous one.

22 min: And Argentina are ahead! A long direct pass from Rodrigo De Paul is badly misplayed by Renan Lodi and lands on the foot of 33-year-old Angel Di Maria, who lifts it up over a helpless Ederson and into the back of the goal. What a start for the Albiceleste!

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20 min: Brazil have generated a couple of half-chances in the past three minutes, both times bypassing the midfield in search of a quick strike. Then Neymar is brought down right outside the area for what appears to be a free kick for Brazil from about 22 yards, but Argentina are bailed out by an offside call.

16 min: Neymar is cut down by Paredes while in attack. A tactical foul but yet another sign of the rugged physicality on display up and down the pitch. We’re told only 8,000 spectators were allowed in but it sounds like a whole lot more.

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14 min: Otamendi catches Lucas Paqueta during a Brazil attack down the center of the pitch, giving the hosts a free kick from a dangerous position. It’s poorly taken, then Argentina win a free kick from the shadow of their own goal after an Oscar-worthy performance from Montiel. The Conmebol energy is strong with this one already.

11 min: Lots of two-way energy but neither team have really managed to get their teeth into the match so far. Almost out of nowhere, Neymar is sprung up the left side but the attack is broken up and a foul gives Argentina a free kick going the other way.

6 min: It’s been all Argentina in the early going, but neither side has generated a serious chance with most of the action taking place in the middle third.

3 min: Brazil’s Fred comes in early on a challenge along the sideline and catches Monteil with his studs, drawing an early yellow card from the referee.

1 min: After a minute of silence for the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Uruguayan referee Esteban Ostojich gives the signal and we’re off and running from the Maracanã! Argentina are attacking from left to right in their familiar white kits with blue stripes, Brazil from right to left in yellow shirts with blue shorts.

The teams have emerged from the tunnel and have taken their positions on either side of the trophy for the national anthems. The scenes play out beneath a spectaular pyrotechnic display above the hallowed ground. First it’s Brazil’s Hino Nacional Brasileiro, followed by Argentina’s Himno Nacional Argentino. We should be under way in a few short minutes!

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Tonight marks the 108th all-time meeting between Argentina and Brazil, but only the fifth time South America’s two greatest rivals have met in a tournament final. A quick lookback at the previous four, via the Associated Press:

1937 South American Championship, Argentina 2-0 Brazil (aet)

The Copa América format was a round-robin tournament and was supposed to have no final. But in 1937 the two archrivals finished level with eight points each, and instead of considering goal difference to pick the winner, Brazil and Argentina agreed to play for the trophy. The match ended 0-0 after 90 minutes at the Gasómetro, the old stadium of San Lorenzo in Buenos Aires. Argentina won their fifth continental title in extra time with two goals by Vicente de la Mata.

2004 Copa América, Argentina 2-2 Brazil (aet, 2-4 on penalties)

Argentina’s win seemed all but certain as the match at the Estadio Nacional in Lima ticked down. Argentina had opened the scoring with Christian Gonzalez from the spot, saw Luisão equalize in the end of the first half, but a shot by César Delgado three minutes before the end had then defending World Cup champions Brazil nearly knocked out. But striker Adriano scored on the last shot of the match to send the match to penalties. Brazil’s goalkeeper Julio César stopped Andrés D’Alessandro and Argentina’s Gabriel Heinze missed his chance from the spot. Juan scored the decisive penalty for Brazil, who won Copa América for the seventh time.

2005 Confederations Cup, Brazil 4-1 Argentina

Brazil eliminated host Germany in the semi-finals while Argentina knocked Mexico out and the archrivals met in a final that many expected to be close. It wasn’t. Brazil thrashed Argentina despite Robinho replacing the injured Ronaldo. Adriano scored the first goal with a blast from outside the box in the 12th minute. Kaká found the back of the net from nearly the same position only five minutes later. Ronaldinho, the best player in the world at the time, netted the third in the 48th minute from close range and Adriano finished the rivals off with a header in the 64th minute. Pablo Aimar scored Argentina’s only goal.

2007 Copa América, Brazil 3-0 Argentina

Argentina were widely expected to win the South American tournament that year. At age 20, Lionel Messi played the final in Maracaibo with Juan Román Riquelme and Carlos Tevez up front, but could not make a difference for the favorites. Brazil scored with Júlio Baptista, an own goal by Roberto Ayala and then Dani Alves. It was the Seleção’s second consecutive title in the tournament. It was also Messi’s first disappointment with Argentina in tournament finals.

Here’s a look at tonight’s teams. Five changes for Argentina from Tuesday’s semi-final against Colombia, while Brazil are unchanged from Monday’s win over Peru.

Argentina

XI Emiliano Martinez, Otamendi, Acuna, Montiel, Romero, De Paul, Paredes, Lo Celso, Messi, Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez

Subs Marchesin, Armani, Tagliafico, Pezzella, Molina, Lisandro Martinez, Gomez, Angel Correa, Rodriguez, Palacios, Aguero, Gonzalez

Brazil

XI Ederson, Thiago Silva, Danilo, Marquinhos, Renan Lodi, Casemiro, Fred, Everton, Lucas Paqueta, Richarlison, Neymar

Subs Weverton, Alisson, Alex Sandro, Emerson, Leo Ortiz, Eder Militao, Everton Ribeiro, Fabinho, Douglas Luiz, Firmino, Gabriel Barbosa, Vinicius Junior

Referee Esteban Ostojich (Uruguay)

Tonight’s match has been framed as the caliber of final that could redeem a disappointing tournament beset by organizational problems and public turmoil. This year’s Copa was initially due to be co-hosted by Colombia and Argentina, but those nations’ struggles with deadly street protests and coronavirus saw it controversially moved to Brazil in the final hour, where it’s been played in empty stadiums to a backdrop of health and social crises.

But the optimism of today’s run-up was disrupted by news reports that a number of the around 8,000 spectators who have been permitted to attend the match were caught bringing false Covid-19 tests to the stadium.

Conmebol said in a statement it detected “a considerable amount of fraudulent PCR tests” brought by accredited guests, adding those people will not enter the stadium. The South American governing body did not specify how many false tests were found.

“All guests will have to present a negative test from a laboratory to be able to attend,” it said. “There will be no exception. It is recommended that the printed test is available at all times so it can be verified and avoid setbacks.”

More from the Associated Press:

Rio de Janeiro city hall decided on Friday to allow 10% of the 78,000-seat stadium’s capacity at the final, with no ticket sales. Conmebol would have to issue accreditations to the guests and fulfill multiple recommendations.

Conmebol allowed Brazil’s and Argentina’s soccer bodies to invite up to 2,200 guests each. Many of those were gathering outside the ticket offices at the Maracanã for their accreditations and invitations with no regard to social distancing and hours before kick off.

Guests have to wear face masks in the stadium and keep a distance of two meters among each other. No food and drinks will be allowed.

The Maracanã hosted about 60,000 fans in the previous Copa América final in 2019, when Brazil beat Peru 3-1.

The Argentine Football Association said 2,100 tickets were delivered to nationals living in Brazil, including footballers, coaches and staffers of Brazilian clubs.

Brazil is one of the countries hardest hit by Covid-19. It so far counts more than 531,000 knowns deaths, second only to the United States, though the pandemic has waned in the nation this month.

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Buenas noches and welcome to tonight’s Copa América final between Argentina and Brazil at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. La Albiceleste enter tonight’s blockbuster showdown a tantalizing one win away from ending their 28-year title drought, but will no doubt have their hands full against a Seleção side in search of its 10th South American title and second in a row.

A bit of housekeeping as we await the team sheets. Earlier today, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar were chosen as the two best players of the tournament.

Messi has scored four goals and five assists in six matches, while Neymar (who missed Brazil’s triumph in the 2019 Copa América due to injury) has scored two goals and three assists in five games.

“It is not possible to choose only one (best) player because this tournament has two of them,” Conmebol said in a statement.

Conmebol’s technical study group – which included Colombia’s Francisco Maturana and Carlos Restrepo; Uruguay’s Daniel Bañales and Gerardo Pelusso; Argentina’s Sergio Batista and Nery Pumpido and Brazil’s Oswaldo de Oliveira – added that the players had a positive impact on their teams and were “the reflection of the South American DNA in every match they played” in the tournament.

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Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s our Marcela Mora y Araujo’s lookahead to tonight’s final at the Maracanã.

The pride and joy that come from winning big international titles has been lacking for almost three decades. And for Messi in particular this is a pending assignment. Shortly before the Copa América his journalist friend Veronica Brunati spoke with him. She tells me he said: “I would swap all my Golden Boots for one trophy for Argentina.” Now Argentina face Brazil in Saturday night’s final.

The fact that a big win wearing the national strip has eluded him – even though he guided the country to a World Cup final in 2014, to three Copa América finals and to Olympic gold – has become a gaping hole in his psyche and the nation’s.