Messi and Neymar picked as best players

Lionel Messi and Neymar were picked as the two best players of the Copa America just before they met in the final.

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

"They demonstrated in each match their different qualities that make them players of integrity, with technical and tactical quality, for their intelligence with and without the ball, and their decision making, which is always decisive.

"Both are finalists with their national teams, they have performed at a high level, being key players in the goalscoring charts in this tournament.

"In addition, they are leaders in assists - the Argentine has five and the Brazilian has provided three - which demonstrates how decisive they have been on the pitch during this CONMEBOLCopa America 2021."

Messi dished up four goals and five assists in six matches while Neymar delivered two goals and three assists in five games.