Argentina 0-0 Chile (aet; 2-4 on pens): Lionel Messi misses out again after penalty heartbreak for second successive year VC Ezems

Talisman has not won a title with Argentina's national team after losing final for third year in a row
The 29-year-old forward said he is to retire from international football following Sunday's defeat
Messi put his penalty kick over the crossbar and Francisco Silva converted Chile's shoot-out finale
Argentina were beaten by Germany at the 2014 World Cup and Chile in last year's Copa America

Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo lifts the trophy after winning the Copa America Centenario final in New Jersey

Argentina have gone 23 years without a trophy and this was Messi's best chance of doing it. Perhaps his last chance, as the star announced his international retirement after the game.

They have now lost finals three years running. In the 2014 World Cup, against Germany, it was unfortunate. In the 2015 Copa America against Chile, it was painful. And this? Messi must believe it is some kind of curse.

Chile, meanwhile, who waited 99 years to win a Copa America, lifted the trophy in Santiago and now have done it again in New Jersey, in the special 100th year edition of the tournament. This is their golden generation and they are delivering.

Argentina coach Tata Martino was able to bring back Angel di Maria after injury for the final, replacing Ezequiel Lavezzi who suffered the same fate during the semi-final win over the USA, while Lucas Biglia stepped in for another casualty from that game, Augusto Fernandez.

It was the same 4-3-3 as usual, while Chile lined up in the same way, picking their strongest team, with Arturo Vidal back from suspension and Marcelo Diaz fit to start. He didn't last long, however.

Referee Heber Lopes made himself the star of the show in the first half, showing two red cards which he could have held back on.

Diaz was fairly booked for scything down Messi when the forward made his first real move of the game, starting a surging run. Chile sensed danger and Diaz made himself the man to stop it.

Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi had stated that his team needed to come up with a plan to halt the Barcelona man in his tracks and hinted that underhand methods may come into the equation.

What he hadn't banked on was an overzealous official. Diaz obstructed Messi in the 29th minute, a foul, certainly, but a harsh yellow for just his second offence. For a moment it seemed Lopes had forgotten he booked him in the first half, even though the cards were just 12 minutes apart, but out came the red card and Chilean supporters raged.

But things were levelled up on that front just before half-time. Marcos Rojo took out Vidal with a sliding challenge from behind. It was a yellow card offence but he saw red. Ten men each.

Messi walks past the trophy after missing out again, while Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez (right) received the Golden Ball award for best player

As far as chances went, there was only one clear opportunity and Gonzalo Higuain bottled it.

He is often blamed for his mistakes in front of goal in the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America finals, and this was the hat-trick.

When Gary Medel stuttered on the ball in front of his own box, he robbed the Chilean and headed towards goal. His run towards the penalty area wasn't a confident one and his limp, dinked effort evaded Claudio Bravo but also the far post.

Medel came flying back and ended up crashing into his own post, punishment for his mistake, but Higuain's profligacy prevented him from suffering an even more painful one.

Messi's attacking efforts were limited to one free-kick from over 30 yards out, saved by his club team-mate Claudio Bravo, and a dive in the penalty area for which he was booked. He doesn't often go to ground lightly, and the pressure of the occasion was clearly telling on him and his team-mates.

Messi can't hide his disappointment after Argentina were beaten by Chile in penalty shoot-out on Sunday night

Chile, having won the Copa America in 2015, were calm, soaking up Argentina pressure and trying to spring counter-attacks. Martino's men, like the coach himself in his pre-match press conference, seemed worried.

Ever Banega had lashed a shot inches wide within half-a-minute of the game kicking off and it seemed like Argentina were taking the bull by the horns, but they soon settled into a more cautious style of attacking.

When Martino took a furious Di Maria off for Matias Kranevitter early in the second half it hinted at what type of game this was going to become.

Like last year's final, it ended up fragmented, cautious, an ordeal. Few chances developed in the second half, with substitute Sergio Aguero blazing two of them over the crossbar.

Messi tried his best to make a difference, but short of crossing it to himself to finish, there was little he could do.

A run from his own half ended in an effort blazed wide of the top left corner as the clock ticked down in five minutes of stoppage time.

Extra-time was upon us and the game began to open up again. Top scorer Vargas saw a header well saved by Romero, but should have scored after a neat cross from Edson Puch, while Aguero had a nodded effort of his own tipped over the crossbar by Bravo.

Although Argentina finished the stronger, they didn't have enough in the tank to force the ball past Bravo and it ended up in a shoot-out again. And again, they were shot down.

'If you start thinking over the future today, especially at a time like this, it's tough, it's overbearing,' said Martino, of Messi's dejection, before he knew the player was going to quit.

'But so many times, athletes are able to raise themselves back up. They've raised themselves up before, and I'm sure they'll do it again.'

With stories circling over other players considering joining Messi in leaving the side, Argentina's future could be heading down a rocky road. Reaching three finals in three years is a fine accomplishment. Losing them all is not. But if several stars quit the side, Argentina would be lucky to get that far in the near future again.

MATCH FACTS

Argentina: Romero, Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo, Biglia, Mascherano, Banega (Lamela 111), Messi, Higuain (Aguero 69), Di Maria (Kranevitter 57).

Subs Not Used: Guzman, Maidana, Roncaglia, Fernandez, Cuesta, Gaitan, Pastore, Andujar.

Sent Off: Rojo (43).

Booked: Mascherano, Messi, Kranevitter .

Chile: Bravo, Isla, Medel, Jara, Beausejour, Vidal, Diaz, Aranguiz, Fuenzalida (Puch 80), Vargas (Castillo 109), Sanchez (Silva 103).

Subs Not Used: Toselli, Roco, Pinilla, Hernandez, Pulgar, Gonzalez, Orellana, Herrera.

Sent Off: Diaz (29).

Booked: Diaz, Vidal, Beausejour, Aranguiz.

Chile win 4-2 on penalties

Att: 82,026

Ref: Heber Roberto Lopes (Braz