Italy vs Argentina player ratings: Bonucci 3, Chiellini 4; Messi 9, Di Maria 8

Messi hails ;beautiful final' after inspiring Argentina to 3-0 win to claim Finalissima success at a sold-out and partisan Wembley

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  ITALY RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5. Unable to deny Martinez’s tap in for Argentina’s first, the Italy goalkeeper was then left in a one-v-one situation for the second, with Di Maria able to chip the ball over his PSG teammate. Made a great save to tip over Di Maria’s shot at full-stretch. AFP

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  Giovanni Di Lorenzo – 4. Struggled to keep Messi at bay. He was brushed aside and, on one occasion, easily overcome by the PSG playmaker, which enabled Martinez to tap home. Booked. EPA

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  Leonardo Bonucci – 3. The Juventus centre-back was a spectator for Argentina’s first GOAL, and he was in disarray again when Di Maria went through. Nearly gifted Argentina a third with a wayward back pass. Booked. Getty Images

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  Giorgio Chiellini – 4. Captain in his 117th and final game for his country, Chiellini was outpaced by Di Maria and Martinez numerous times before he was substituted at half time. EPA

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  Emerson Palmieri – 4. In the second half, the 27-year-old defender twice created goalscoring opportunities for Argentina as a result of his mistakes. Getty Images

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  Matteo Pessina – 4. The Atalanta midfielder struggled in the midfield battle, and he was often forced into deeper positions than he would have liked. Getty Images

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  Jorginho – 4. Having made a careless tackle on Messi in the opening stages, Jorginho then gave the ball away several times and was forced into unnecessary tackles. The Chelsea player was unable to dictate the midfield. Getty Images

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  Nicolo Barella – 5. Forced Martinez into a quick save in response to Argentina’s opener, but offered very little else. Getty Images

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  Federico Bernardeschi – 4. His highlight in the first half was an attempted cross that was cleared by Romero. Subbed at half time. PA

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  Andrea Belotti – 5. The Torino forward forced Martinez into a full-stretch save to deny his looping header. He had another decent opportunity to equalise at the back post, but he couldn’t quite get his head on it. Getty Images

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  Giacomo Raspadori – 5. The Sassuolo forward gave Italy their first real opportunity to counter Argentina’s pressure when he forced Martinez into a low save from a shot on the spin. PA

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  SUBS: Gianluca Scamacca (Belotti 45) – 5. The substitute had a looping shot that bounced on the roof of the net before the offside flag was raised. PA

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  Manuel Locatelli (Bernardeschi 45') – 5. The Juventus player was unable to trouble Martinez in goal, his best effort a deflected shot that was easily claimed. AP

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  Manuel Lazzari (Chiellini 45’) – A third half-time change for Italy, Lazzari was unable to settle the backline as Argentina continued their relentless attacks. Getty Images

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  Leonardo Spinazzola (Pessina 63’) – 3. A return to action after 10 months out, after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, Spinazzola looked a bit rusty. PA

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  Alessandro Bastoni (77’) – A final change for Italy, and the Inter Milan defender did well to clear his lines with a late header. Getty Images

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  ARGENTINA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez – 7. The Aston Villa goalkeeper returned to the starting line-up and had a relatively easy evening as Italy failed to threaten. Getty Images

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  Nahuel Molina – 7. Untroubled in the backline, Molina was confident in defence and supported Argentina’s attacks. Reuters

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  Cristian Romero – 8. The Tottenham defender was needed to clear a dangerous cross from Bernardeschi into the six-yard box. Overall, he impressed in the backline. AP Photo

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  Nicolas Otamendi – 7. Booked for a late tackle on Emerson in the first half, the 34-year-old refused to risk a second booking with a comfortable display. Getty Images

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  Nicolas Tagliafico – 7. One of two changes from the Copa America final, the Ajax defender was kept busy but impressed throughout. Getty Images

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  Rodrigo de Paul – 7. A fine display by the Atletico Madrid man, who controlled play in the middle, allowing Di Maria and Messi to wreak havoc ahead of him. PA

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  Guido Rodriguez – 7. Went about his business quietly and protected his defence well, allowing Argentina’s attacking players to roam free. AFP

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  Giovani Lo Celso – 7. The Villarreal man could have scored when Messi squared the ball to him at the back post, but the ball rattled the wrong side of the side-netting. PA

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  Lionel Messi – 9. Worthy of a goal that never came, Messi caused Italy endless problems and dominated the play. Had a hand in two of the goals but was unable to find the target himself. AP Photo

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  Angel Di Maria – 8. Tried to catch his PSG teammate out in the early stages, but his long-range effort went wide of Donnarumma's goal. He soon went one better, though, and when put through on goal by Martinez, he beat Chiellini to find the net. AFP

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  Lautaro Martinez – 8. The Inter Milan forward was gifted his opener on a plate following excellent work by Messi. Later, he did incredibly well to overpower Bonucci and put Di Maria through on goal. AFP

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  SUBS: Exequiel Palacios (De Paul 76’) – N/R. The first change for Argentina and a seamless addition, as his country continuing to dominate. AP

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  German Pezzella (Romero 85’) – N/R. A forced change for Argentina as Romero went down in the closing stages. Getty Images

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  Julian Alvarez (L Martinez 85’) – N/R. Alvarez wasted no time in trying a shot from the half-way line. AFP

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  Argentina's striker Paulo Dybala celebrates after scoring their third goal during the 'Finalissima' International friendly football match between Italy and Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London on June 1, 2022. - The Azzurri face the South American continental champions in the inaugural Finalissima at Wembley. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

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  Nicolas Gonzalez (Di Maria 90+1) – N/R. A late change for Argentina. AFP

Lionel Messi hailed Argentina’s “beautiful final” after they downed Italy 3-0 to claim Finalissima success at a sold-out and partisan Wembley.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner produced a memorable performance at England’s national stadium and provided two assists to inspire more trophy delight for his nation after last summer’s Copa America triumph had ended their 28-year wait for silverware.

Goals by Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala helped Argentina win the third edition of the ‘Cup of Champions’ with the South Americans also successful in the 1993 match.

Wembley was full of sky blue and white with Argentinians enjoying their first trip to the new stadium having last visited in 2000 for a friendly at the old venue.

“It was a beautiful final, full of Argentines. What we experienced here was beautiful,” Messi told reporters.

“We’re here to fight anyone. Today was a nice test because Italy is a great team.

“We knew it was going to be a nice match and a nice setting to be champion”.

Messi has endured a tough debut season at Paris Saint-Germain, scoring only 11 times with that his lowest goals total for a season in 16 years.

In what could prove his final appearance in England, the former Barcelona attacker set up the first following a wonderful turn to fool Giovanni Di Lorenzo with Martinez able to poke home Messi’s centre.

More flashes of brilliance came from the 35-year-old and midway through the second half he almost added another wonder goal to his greatest hits but his waltzing run from the halfway line ended with a tame shot straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma.

It was 2-0 by this point with Di Maria chipping over his PSG colleague in stoppage time of the first 45 and, while Messi would continue to be denied by his club team-mate, one final magic moment occurred.

With virtually the last kick of the clash, Messi’s would go on one more jinking run which ended on the edge of the Italy penalty area, but he was still able to lay off for substitute Dybala to fire home and make it 3-0.