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Uruguay sealed a record 15th Copa America title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Paraguay at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The tiny nation, with a population of just 3.5 million, lifted the trophy for the first time in 16 years thanks to Diego Forlan's double strike and another from Luis Suarez.

As Uruguay completely dominated the game from start to finish, Gerardo Martino's men didn't display the same hunger as their counterparts and their ragged defence couldn't cope with the deadly Suarez-Forlan partnership.

Suarez put La Celeste ahead in the 12th minute when his shot deflected off the unlucky Dario Veron and crept in off the post.

In the 43rd minute, Forlan doubled Uruguay's advantage with a crisp left-footed shot which thundered past Villar, netting his first goal in 13 international games.

After starting the second half brighter, Paraguay were unlucky not pull a goal back in the 53rd minute when Muslera denied Nelson Haedo Valdez with a spectacular finger-tip save, pushing the ball onto the crossbar.

Clearly struggling without the firepower of the injured Roque Santa Cruz, Los Guaraníes rarely troubled Muslera thereafter as the game drew to a disappointing close for their vast travelling contingent.

Their slim hope of lifting a first title since 1979 were finally ended in the last minute by Forlan, when the Atletico Madrid star latched onto Suarez's inch perfect header and finished a superb Uruguay counter-attack with aplomb past the advancing Villar.