Messi Scores as Argentina Defeats Canada 2-0 to Reach Copa America Final
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
5 minutes read. Updated 1:30PM GMT Mon, 10 July, 2024
Argentina, the defending champions, advanced to the Copa America final after defeating Canada 2-0. Julian Alvarez and the great Lionel Messi scored goals to secure their place in the final, which will take place on Sunday in Florida against either Uruguay or Colombia. The forthcoming final provides a big opportunity for numerous older players, including Messi, Angel Di Maria, and Nicolas Otamendi, to maybe win one last trophy.
Reflecting on the success, Messi said, “Let us enjoy what we’re doing as a national team, as a group.” It is not simple to be in a final and compete again to be champions.” Furthermore, Messi said, “I’m living it as I have been living everything lately: enjoying it very much and being aware, as it happens to Fideo (Di Maria) and Ota (Otamendi), that these are the last battles.”
Argentina, with a Copa America record 15 titles and six final appearances in the last eight editions, faced a motivated Canadian team that posed substantial problems in the first 20 minutes. Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg had two great opportunities but failed to capitalize.
Despite the early pressure, Argentina seized the lead in the 22nd minute with Rodrigo De Paul’s exquisite cross to Julian Alvarez, who deftly maneuvered between defenders to score. This goal shifted the momentum, and Argentina, the 2022 World Cup winners and FIFA’s top-ranked team, began to dominate. Messi nearly doubled the lead before halftime with an impressive display of footwork, but his shot went wide. Canada had a fleeting chance to equalize in stoppage time, but Jonathan David’s close-range effort was thwarted by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Messi’s Milestone Messi, who had been dealing with a muscle injury earlier in the tournament, appeared revitalized in the humid conditions at MetLife Stadium. He scored Argentina’s second goal in the 51st minute, deftly redirecting Enzo Fernandez’s shot past Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. This goal elevated Messi to joint fifth in the all-time Copa America scoring charts, alongside Peru’s Paolo Guerrero and Chile’s Eduardo Vargas, with 14 goals.
Furthermore, his 109th goal for Argentina propelled him beyond Iran’s Ali Daei, putting him second in all-time international scoring, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo’s 130 goals for Portugal. Despite Argentina’s two-goal lead, Canada maintained pressure, with replacement Tani Oluwaseyi challenging Martinez with a crisp effort in the 89th minute and just missing a header a minute later. Canada’s performance in the tournament exceeded expectations, outperforming higher-ranked CONCACAF opponents Mexico and the United States, who will co-host the 2026 World Cup.
Midfielder Stephen Eustaquio pondered on the game, telling Canadian network TSN, “They’re the best team in the world, but we had our chances early on.” If we had converted one of our chances, the outcome of the game would likely have been different. It’s a significant accomplishment to be in the last four of the Copa America.
As Argentina prepares for the final, the worldwide football community hopes for an exciting end to the Copa America. For Messi and his colleagues, this may be the pinnacle of a successful international career.
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