Sanchez wins most valuable player at the Copa America centenario

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez was named player of the Copa America Centenario champions Chile also swept the individual awards.

Chile beat Argentina on penalties for the second year in a row in the final on Sunday, and Sanchez was then awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after scoring three goals and setting up two in six games.

His teammate Eduardo Vargas won the Golden Boot after finishing as the top scorer with six goals, while Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was awarded the Golden Glove.

Chile also dominated the selections for the Copa’s Best XI, with eight players selected. The other three were Argentina players — including Lionel Messi, who missed his penalty in the shootout and then said he will retire from internationals.

No tengo Palabras. Solo agradecer a mis compañeros y toda la gente que nos apoyó ��������⚽️���� … Ahora chilenos, a disfrutar .

Sanchez who took the decisive penalty last year, was substituted in extra-time of Sunday’s final but had been crucial in getting his team that far.

He scored twice in a must win game against Panama that got Chile to the knockout stages, then had one goal and two assist in the 7-0 thrashing of Mexico in the quarter-finals.

He celebrated the win by posing with his trophies and medal in the dessing room after the game and wrote on twitter, “i am speechless.”

Bravo did not concede a goal in the knockout stages, and denied Argentina’s Lucas Biglia with a crucial save in the penalty shootout.