Argentina clinched a record sixteenth Copa América title on Sunday night, beating Colombia 1-0 in a hard-fought match. The streets of Buenos Aires exploded into celebration — and in this Buenos Aires kitchen, fans are paying homage to their heroes in the medium they know best.
In the restaurant El Antojo, chef Damián Zanotti, 46, meticulously sculpted milanesas into portraits of Argentine football stars including the kooky beloved goalkeeper Emi “Dibu” Martínez and retiring attacker Ángel Di María.
Meanwhile, owner Cristian Franco proudly displayed his collection of football memorabilia. “It’s like a museum,” he remarked, walking past walls adorned with autographed jerseys from football legends.
Di María, 36, is affectionately known as El Fideo (the noodle). Famed for making a heart with his hands to celebrate on the pitch, Sunday was likely his last match: he has announced that he plans to retire from the national team after this championship. “He is such a good person…we did the Mila-Di María, in honor of him and all the goals he scored,” said Franco.
Sunday marked the Argentine team’s third back-to-back title. Lionel Scaloni’s squad hasn’t lost a championship in two and a half years. Meanwhile, Néstor Lorenzo’s Colombian team hasn’t seen silver since 2001.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, Zanotti said he didn’t have post-game plans. Many Argentines say it’s bad luck to assume a win. “I can’t say anything else…but we have confidence,” he said.
“We Argentines have football in our blood.”