Chile secured the first major trophy in their history on home soil courtesy of a penalty shootout win over Argentina in the Copa America final.
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez slotted in the winning spot-kick after Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain fired over and Ever Banega was denied by Claudio Bravo.
Higuain had earlier missed from close range after 90 minutes of few chances.
Sanchez came closest in extra time for Chile, who scored all four of their penalties in the shootout.
Where Chile held their nerve, Argentina wilted in the shootout at the end of a performance that fell well short of the heights they reached in their 6-1 semi-final win over Paraguay.
Le Albiceleste are without a major trophy in the last 22 years since winning the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador.
BBC World Service's Richard Padula in Santiago "It was a game in which the destroyers kicked, grappled and smothered the playmakers. Messi wasn't given a yard of space as Chile stifled Argentina's attack. In that regard Jorge Sampaoli's game-plan worked perfectly. Apparently he'd studied hours of tapes of Barcelona in action to discover the key to stopping Messi. "But throughout the tournament the Chileans have shown a strong will-to-win, which at times could even be described as dirty. Jara's finger the perfect case in point. They out-fought Uruguay and stamped out Argentina's goal menace."
Chile make history
Chile's victory brought an end to almost a century of competing in the Copa America without claiming a title.
They were one of four teams who played in the very first tournament in 1916 in Argentina but the best they had done until this year was runner-up, which they have achieved on four occasions (1955, 1956, 1979 and 1987).
Chile end a century of hurt Chile won their first Copa America after 173 games played in this competition, dating back to the first tournament in 1916.
The Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos was a cauldron of noise on Saturday, full of flag-waving red-clad home supporters, some of whom had reportedly paid up to $25,000 for tickets.
They were not treated to a dazzling attacking display from their side but rather one of drive, discipline and, ultimately, composure, epitomised by the industrious and energetic Sanchez and Charles Aranguiz.
How the shoot-out unfolded
Both sides scored their opening penalty, with Matias Fernandez emphatically finding the top corner for Chile before Lionel Messi sent his kick low into the bottom corner.
However, after Arturo Vidal had powerfully dispatched Chile's second, Higuain blazed his effort way over the bar.
Charles Aranguiz made it 3-1 to the hosts and it remained that way as Ever Banega's tame effort was palmed away by the diving Claudio Bravo.
Sanchez showed supreme composure to chip his effort down the middle and in to win the game and the competition for his side.
Missing Messi
Following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Germany last summer, four-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi once again missed out on his first major international medal.
He put in a supreme showing in the Copa America semi-final demolition of Paraguay, playing a part in all six of his nation's goals, but on Saturday he was largely on the periphery throughout, with his most significant contribution being a trademark run towards the Chile box to set up a wasted chance for Higuain in the final minute.
The 28-year-old is not entirely to blame for his failure in Santiago. His team-mates did little to create the space the forward needs to be effective, not did they find him with the regularity he is used to when playing for his club.
Credit must also go to Chile, who were quick to close him down whenever he did receive the ball in a threatening position.
More horror for Higuain
Napoli forward Higuain was criticised for missing a superb chance in the World Cup final defeat to Germany in Brazil last summer and he was once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons on Saturday.
He was guilty of spurning an opportunity to win the game for his side in the last minute of normal time when he failed to turn in Ezequiel Lavezzi's low cross at the back post.
And his penalty miss - Argentina's first in the shoot-out - was that of a player whose confidence and composure has deserted him. It handed Chile an advantage they would not relinquish.
'We left our life on the field'
Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal: "This is a dream come true, this team deserves something like this.
"We left our life on the field. Chilean people needed this joy and we managed to give it to them.
"We'll fight a lot in the next World Cup. This generation of players deserved this."
Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (5) Chile 01 Bravo
04 Isla
05 Silva Booked
17 Medel Booked
15 Beausejour
08 Vidal
21 Díaz Booked
10 Valdívia (Fernández - 75' )
(Fernández - 75' ) 20 Aránguiz Booked
07 Sánchez
11 Vargas (Henriquez Iturra - 95' ) Substitutes 02 Mena
03 Albornoz
06 Fuenzalida
09 Pinilla
12 Garcés
13 Rojas
14 Fernández
16 Pizarro
19 Gutiérrez
22 Henriquez Iturra
23 Herrera Argentina 01 Romero
04 Zabaleta
15 Demichelis
17 Otamendi
16 Rojo Booked
06 Biglia
14 Mascherano Booked
21 Pastore (Banega - 81' Booked )
(Banega - 81' ) 10 Messi
11 Agüero (Higuaín - 74' )
(Higuaín - 74' ) 07 Di María (Lavezzi - 29' ) Substitutes 02 Garay
03 Roncaglia
05 Gago
08 Pereyra
09 Higuaín
12 Guzmán
13 Casco
18 Tévez
19 Banega
20 Lamela
22 Lavezzi
23 Marchesín Ref: Wilmar Roldán
On Saturday, host nation Chile defeated Argentina 4–1 over penalties in the  , which was held in  located in the Chilean city of Santiago, to clinch the title for the very first time. 
File photo of Alexis Sanchez, who scored the winning penalty of the tournament. 

The first half saw 3 . In total, both halves, 49 fouls were committed. Nobody scored in the first half of the match. Chile had 57% possession of the ball. The second half saw 4 yellow cards, but neither team could find the net. Since the second half ended in 0–0, the match proceeded to . Gonzalo Higuaín missed some chances to score a goal for Argentina. Argentina has not won any major trophy in the past 22 years.

Chile began the penalty-shootout. Chilean players converted each penalty kick into goal, whereas except for FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi, no other Argentine could score a penalty. Misses by Higuaín and  turned out to be costly for Argentina and the final strike by Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez sealed the victory by the host nation. 

Chilean captain  won the golden glove trophy and  won top scorer award.

==Match details== 






















 





GK 

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'''21'''

Marcelo Díaz 

 



 

'''17'''

 

 



 

'''4''' 





 

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'''8''' 

Arturo Vidal



 

'''15'''





 

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'''7''' 





'''Substitutions:'''



 

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GK 

'''1''' 





 

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'''15'''





 

'''17'''





 

'''16'''

 

 



 

'''6''' 





 

'''14'''

  

 



 

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'''10'''

Lionel Messi ()



 

'''11'''

Sergio Agüero 

 

 



 

'''7''' 

 

 

 



'''Substitutions:'''



 

'''22'''

 

 

 



 

'''9''' 

Gonzalo Higuaín 

 

 



 

'''19'''

 

   

 



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'''Man of the Match:'''
Arturo Vidal (Chile)

''':'''
Alexander Guzmán ()
Cristian De La Cruz (Colombia)
''':'''
 ()
''':'''
Christian Lescano ()