Although Brazil started Copa America with the wrong foot, being defeated in its first match by Mexico, they finished by winning Copa America after an impressive 3-0 win against Argentina.

Playing in Copa America without its star players Kaka and Ronaldinho, Brazil escaped the semifinals against Uruguay in a penalty shootout and overall played lackluster games.

Meanwhile, Argentina won all its games and was seen as the favorite of the final match,

But Brazil needed only four minutes to stop transform Argentina’s dream to win Copa America in a nightmare.

Julio Baptista, the Real Madrid midfielder, found the net with a right-foot shot that defender Roberto Ayala could not block and Argentine keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri was unable to react.

Five minutes later, Argentina tried to score the equalizer when Messi crossed the ball, Veron headed it softly to leave it at the feet of Riquelme. Juan Roman Riquelme went close with a right-footed shot that hit the post.

In the 35th minute Brazilian goalkeeper Doni denied another Riquelme effort and five minutes later Ayala netted the ball after a Daniel Alves cross in the 40th minute, with an own goal that made things 2-0.

In the second half Alves sealed the victory by adding a third in the 69th minute, finishing with a precise shot into the corner after collecting a center from Vagner Love.

“The country is happy because we have recovered the self-esteem of Brazilian football,” coach Carlos Dunga said in a press conference in Maracaibo. “What we did was to play football, to know how to defend, to attack and to value the talent which our players had, which was more than many thought.”

"We have found a team that did things well," Argentine star Juan Roman Riquelme admitted. "We have to congratulate them."

Defeat in the final “should not erase all the good things Argentina did in the tournament,” said Argentina captain Ayala. “They found the first goal fast, and the second was bad luck. That allowed them to manage the game.”

Brazil has proved a real nightmare for Argentina who lost three straight international finals to archrival Brazil - the 2004 Copa America in Peru, the 2006 Confederations Cup in Germany and Sunday's Copa final in Venezuela.

Brazilian star Robinho - the Copa America's top scorer - noted that the team still has to improve but stressed that "the important thing is the result."