Goal of the tournament, best player, surprise team and biggest miss at Copa

Messi’s Copa ended in tears. PHOTO BY AFP 

LOS ANGELES. Just like in 2015 Chile and Argentina were inseparable over 120 minutes and the Copa America final ended up in a penalty shoot-out on Monday. And just like in 2015, Chile won. Lionel Messi missed a penalty after Arturo Vidal saw his spot-kick saved, but then Lucas Biglia’s miss condemned Argentina to a 23rd year without a trophy. Although the final was short on goals, it wasn’t short on incident with two red cards, and the tournament as a whole was full of intrigue and controversy. Here are Sportsmail’s awards and analysis of this special 100th year edition of the Copa America.

Best player: Lionel Messi. Yes, he blew it, sending his penalty into the New Jersey night sky, before retiring from international football after the game, distraught. But until that point he had enjoyed an almost flawless tournament.
A 19-minute hat-trick against Panama from the bench, a dazzling cameo against Bolivia, dominating performances against Venezuela and the USA, along with being the only player in his team that looked capable of creating anything in the final mean he was the tournament’s best player. Sanchez took the actual Golden Ball award, but he wasn’t even the best player in Chile’s team – that was Arturo Vidal, who curiously also missed from the spot as the final came to a head.

Best goal: There weren’t many stunning strikes in this tournament but Lionel Messi’s rip-roaring free-kick against the USA in the semi-final was certainly one. He beat Brad Guzan on the side of the goal the stopper was protecting, with an effort that somehow managed to dip into the top corner while seemingly always rising. What’s more, it was the goal that made Messi Argentina’s outright all-time top goalscorer, taking over from the legendary Gabriel Batistuta.

Surprise team: Few expected Chile to reach the final again, let alone win the trophy, but considering their achievement last year, it wouldn’t be giving them enough credit to put their performances down as a total surprise.
So Venezuela were the most surprising package. They came within 10 minutes of topping Group C, with Mexico scoring a late equaliser to force them into a clash against Argentina in the quarter-final.
Even in that game they had a period of dominance. There was a 15-minute spell towards the end of the first half in which they could have scored on three or four occasions, including Luis Seijas attempting a Panenka penalty which was caught by Sergio Romero, who couldn’t believe his luck.

Biggest disappointment: That Luis Suarez didn’t get to make an appearance because of the hamstring injury he picked up in the Copa del Rey final was a shame. The Barca star was desperate to play, as this would have been his first tourney appearance for his country since he bit Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

First, the official awards…
Golden glove (best goalkeeper)
Claudio Bravo (Chile)
Golden ball (best player)
Alexis Sanchez (Chile)
Golden boot (top scorer)
Eduardo Vargas (Chile, 6 goals)