With the help of his infinite genius, the Albiceleste defeated Canada 2-0 on Tuesday to reach the match for the Copa América championship.
“These are the last battles,” proclaimed the star who turned 37 two weeks ago.
On Argentina’s Independence Day, Messi opened his scoring account in the tournament with an opportunistic left-footed strike at the start of the second half to seal the victory in New Jersey. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring in the first half, finishing with a nutmeg after being one-on-one with goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.
“It’s crazy what this group did, what the Argentine national team has been doing,” said the captain, who reached 109 goals in 186 games with the national team. He also scored his 14th goal in 38 Copa América games, three shy of the record.
“It’s not easy to do this, but we did it again,” he added.
In the record books, Messi is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 130 goals. Iran’s Al Daei would have 108 or 109 between 1993 and 2006, with an unresolved argument over whether a goal against Ecuador in 2000 came in a full international match.
Argentina, a candidate to defend its continental crown, will play on Sunday in Miami against the winner of the duel between Colombia and Uruguay, who will play the other semi-final this Wednesday in Charlotte.
Argentina is seeking its third consecutive title at a major tournament — with the 2022 World Cup in between — and also to position itself with 16 titles as the most successful team in the history of the Copa América. All this under the leadership of Lionel Scaloni.
“This is something to be proud of,” Scaloni said. “My thanks go to the players. We have had praise and success. And to get to this point after that is twice as hard.”
Messi continues to enjoy his team after going through a long journey of frustrations in the final stages of the major football events.
This sweet present began precisely in the final of the 2021 edition of the Copa América, which they won against Brazil in the stands of the Maracaná stadium, silenced by the pandemic.
“We have to enjoy everything we are experiencing as a team and as a national team,” said Messi. “What we have achieved is very difficult, we have to take advantage of it.”
Messi was more involved than in the previous match against Ecuador, which was decided by penalties. His teammate Enzo Fernández had shot at goal and the Ten used his left foot to deflect it. The ball hit Crépeau’s face on its way to the net.
“For those of us who are left from the old generation (like Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi), the fact that the national team can play in another final is impressive,” said Messi. “It is a difficult cup, very close, bad pitches, very hot.”
In the run-up to the match, fans gathered in Times Square and flooded the streets of Manhattan before heading to MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup final.
With a large majority of Argentines, 80,102 fans turned out for a night with 27 degrees Celsius (82 F) and 82% humidity. The presence of Canadians in the stands was limited to a few corners.
For Canada, it was one of the most momentous matches in their history, which includes six losses in as many games in their two World Cups, in 1986 and 2022. Their only significant trophy was the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which they won in 2000.
Argentina had beaten Canada 2-0 in the opening match of the Copa América on June 20 in Atlanta.
After barely surviving the quarter-final clash against Ecuador in Houston, Argentina struggled in the early stages due to the speed of the Canadians. But Argentina gradually took control and Di Maria’s forays down the right flank became their best weapon.
Messi missed the final group game due to a muscle problem in his right leg and went unnoticed when he played the full 90 minutes against Ecuador.
But he offered a more dynamic version and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions in the first half. After exchanging passes with Di Maria, he shot wide from the heart of the area in the 12th minute, also shot wide in the 44th and hit the crossbar in stoppage time.
The surface of the MetLife appeared to be heavy, splashing water and sand.
Argentina took the lead with a superb pass from Rodrigo De Paul from the centre circle which Álvarez masterfully handled with his right foot, avoiding the mark of Moïse Bombito. One-on-one with Crépeau at the penalty spot, Álvarez slipped the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs to score his ninth goal in 35 caps for the national team.
Messi scored from a throw-in. He sent a cross to De Paul, who advanced to the byline and brought the ball back. Ismaël Koné’s clearance fell to Fernández, whose shot was redirected by Messi.
“I got in the middle. We didn’t know if Enzo’s goal would go in and it was a reflex,” Messi said.
Source: AP
