Lionel Messi conjured yet another moment of sublime brilliance last night, as Argentina eased passed Mexico 3-0 and booked their place in Sunday's Copa America final in Caracas, Venezuela.

With an hour on the clock, and his side leading 1-0 through a first-half strike from Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze, the 20-year-old winger drifted in from the right and floated an exquisite left-foot lob over Oswaldo Sanchez, the Mexico goalkeeper, to claim his second goal of the tournament.

"It was something only the superstars do, an extraordinary feat that moved everybody" Alfio Basile, the Argentina coach, said.

Basile's team completed a comfortable victory minutes later when Juan Roman Riquelme impudently chipped home from the penalty spot after Carlos Tevez was fouled. Riquelme now has five goals for the tournament, bettered only by Brazil's Robinho, who has six.

Of their defeat, Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez said: "There's nothing left but to recognize the superiority of Argentina."

Brazil and Argentina, the two giants of South American football, will meet in the final following Brazil's dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat of Uruguay on Tuesday. It will be the tenth time they have faced each other at this stage in the 91-year history of the Copa America.

Brazil have won the previous three tournaments, but Argentina will enter the game favourites having scored 16 goals, a tournament record, and won all of their five games. If they succeed, it will be their first Copa success since 1993.

Mexico face Uruguay in a third place play-off on Saturday.

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football