Loud jeers each time Messi takes a touch. A hero in Argentina but not in the Maracana.

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC One

You can see the respect the teams are giving each other by thickening up the middle of the pitch with players.

A Brazil free-kick after a bruising challenge by Nicolas Otamendi. I'm not sure this is going to stay 11 v 11 for 90 minutes. The challenges are flying in.

Renan Lodi is second to the ball and an Argentina player rolls over multiple times. Plenty of theatrics in these opening stages but the referee keeps his cards in his pocket this time.

A lovely flick by Neymar to brush off Giovani Lo Celso before Richarlison concedes a free-kick. The opening stages have been peppered by fouls. There's plenty of tension in the air already.

Argentina are looking the more threatening. Lautaro Martinez tries to pick out Angel di Maria but it's intercepted midway inside the Brazil half. The hosts have hardly got started.

Five minutes on the clock. The busiest man on the pitch? That's definitely the referee. A stop-start affair so far.

Leon Osman
Former Everton midfielder on BBC One

I think the fact they're on home soil and their record suggests Brazil are favourites. I expect them to dictate the tempo and send an early message out.

Fred is on a yellow card after three minutes!

He's gone in hard on Gonzalo Montiel and the referee was not happy.

The Manchester United is walking a disciplinary tightrope already.

Both teams are wearing their traditional colours. The tackles are flying already. Nicolas Otamendi has just sent a Brazil player crashing to the ground.

The 2021 Copa America final is under way. Neymar or Messi? Brazil or Argentina?

Image source, Getty Images

"We're going to play a final against our eternal rivals, the lifelong ones, the two most powerful national teams in South America and we hope it will be a great match."

You can read a preview of the Copa America final and what has happened so far in the tournament here.

We've just had a spectacular lights show, fireworks and the national anthems. I forgot how good Brazil's was. We're close to kick-off. Which way is this going?

Messi has scored four goals at this tournament. Will he add to that tally? More importantly, will he win his first major trophy in an Argentina shirt?

Image source, Getty Images

There is greatness on show in the Maracana.

Incredibly, Lionel Messi and Neymar have yet to win a major trophy for Argentina and Brazil respectively.

That's going to change for one of them in the next couple of hours.

Image source, Getty Images

Argentina v Brazil to decide the champions of South America followed - 19 hours later - by Italy against England to decide the champions of Europe. Fantasy football.

Image source, Reuters

"Brazil versus Argentina is much more than a simple game of football," says Brazil defender Marquinhos.

"These jerseys make the world stand still."

The iconic Maracana stadium - scene of Argentina's 1-0 defeat by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final - is the setting for this epic fixture.

All matches at the Copa America have so far been played without fans inside grounds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, up to 7,800 supporters, 10% of the stadium's full capacity of 78,000, is expected for this game.

BBC One

This is one of the greatest fixtures in world football.

And it's live on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer NOW.

Italy v England can wait.

Argentina against Brazil in the Copa America final is a true clasico.

This could be fascinating.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters