Emiliano Martínez (7): He did not touch the ball during the entire first half because the team led by “El Tigre” Gareca did not kick at goal; in the second half, “El Dibu” showed why he is irreplaceable in Argentina with two great saves against the dangerous Echeverría.
Nahuel Molina (6): He won his particular duel against a figure like Alexis Sánchez and in one of his climbs from the right he almost caused a goal against Pulgar with a poisonous cross into the heart of the Chilean area; At the start of the second half, La Pulga left it to him and the Atlético Madrid defender burned Bravo’s hands, although he neglected Echeverría in a clear shot that the good Huracán midfielder had; “Huevo” Acuña entered for him.
Cristian Romero (8): Solid in one-on-one and always winning from above, he also decisively attacked through the center and even encouraged himself with a couple of passes between the lines as if to show that the occasional point guard suit does not suit him badly.
Lisandro Martínez (7): firm on the mark, confident in his exits from the back and quick to cover the backs of a teammate, his shot in full attacking position hit Isla’s hand inside the area that the referee – evidently – judged unintentionally or directly nor registered.
Nicolas Tagliafico (5): Dávila and especially Vargas chose their sector to progress offensively, so sometimes they had to be helped by both Licha Martínez and Nico González, which reduced their offensive incursions.
Rodrigo De Paul (8): something was messed up by the hand of a Chilean midfielder that went unnoticed by the referee, the team’s brain exerted the usual pressure in the middle of the field, from where it pivoted and even reached the rival area with surprise to try out a couple of shots that went out above the crossbar; In the complement he put the team on his shoulders and was one of the best.
Enzo Fernandez (5): Although more advanced in the double 5 that he formed with Mac Allister, the Chelsea midfielder lacked a bit of precision to associate better and had a low shot about half an hour into the game; Still in search of rhythm after at the end of April he underwent surgery for a groin injury that kept him away from the courts, in the complement he was replaced by Lo Celso.
Alexis Mac Allister (6): Very involved in his role as a recuperator, he practically gave up on his intention to prosper in attack, although in the first moment that he appeared by surprise he was unable to take advantage of a pass to goal from his captain, which he narrowly missed and face to face with Bravo.
Nicolás González (7): very participative, very fast in transitions and diagonals, he went down his side to help Tagliafico and put pressure on the opponent’s exit; In the second 45 minutes he received a phenomenal pass from Messi, took Isla for a walk and ended up shaking the crossbar with a furious left foot shot. He complied.
Lionel Messi (8): At just 37 years old, his love for the ball remains intact. The rigor with which the last trans-Andean line treated him did not weigh on him until a paralytic artery by Paulo Díaz seemed to affect his right adductor, although he immediately turned on and from 30 meters he scored a shot that grazed a post with the goalkeeper defeated; In the second half he scored stilettos with his signature and could even score an Olympic goal if it weren’t for the attentive Bravo, who knows the 10 from the time they both shared a squad in Barcelona.
Julian Alvarez (6): selfless and sacrificed as always when it came to giving a hand in the retreats, as if in a fan he played open along the entire front of attack and had one in front of the goal after being enabled from the left by Nico González, but the ball was controlled by the veteran Bravo, and another left-footed one that went high before halftime.
Giovani Lo Celso (-): With a little more mobility than Enzo Fernández, from the start he left Messi, who was ahead, in front of the goal.
Angel Di María (-): After his first devilish dribble, Núñez tackled him just outside the area, but the referee acted like a bear; In extra time he was very generous and left it to “Toro” Martínez, who could not score a double.
Lautaro Martínez (-): He rushed to finish in the first one he had, he did not fail in the second after a corner kick from Messi and he definitely made friends with the goal again; he was able to do another one at the end.
Gonzalo Montiel (-): replaced an exhausted Tagliafico near the epilogue.
Marcos Acuña (-): He played a handful of minutes and did not gravitate.
