Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who turns 37 on Monday, is captaining Argentina in what is surely his final edition of the continental championship.
World champions Argentina opened their bid for back-to-back Copa America titles with a 2-0 victory over Canada. The match, held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, saw 70,564 fans in attendance. Julian Alvarez scored the first goal in the 49th minute, and Lautaro Martinez sealed the win with a goal in the 88th minute.
Lionel Messi’s Historic Appearance
Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, became the most capped player in Copa America history, making his 35th appearance in the tournament. This edition is likely his final participation in the continental championship. Despite not scoring, Messi played a crucial role in Argentina’s win and created several opportunities for his teammates.
First Half: A Tight Contest
Argentina dominated the first half but faced strong resistance from Canada, ranked 48th in the world. Alvarez had an early chance, but a heavy touch allowed Canadian goalkeeper Max Crepeau to smother the ball. Messi also came close to scoring, but his angled shot from the left missed the far post.
Canada had its moments, with Alphonso Davies and Liam Millar having their shots blocked and Tajon Buchanan missing a tight-angle effort. The first significant save came in the 40th minute when Crepeau dealt with Alexis Mac Allister’s header from an Angel Di Maria cross. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also made a crucial save from Stephen Eustaquio’s powerful header.
Second Half: Breaking the Deadlock
Just four minutes into the second half, Argentina broke the deadlock. Messi threaded a pass to Mac Allister, who was brought down by Crepeau. Before the referee could blow the whistle, Alvarez slotted home the loose ball. Alvarez had another chance shortly after but was denied by Crepeau.
Canada, showing more urgency, switched to an attacking 4-3-3 formation, putting pressure on the Argentine defense. However, Argentina’s counter-attacks kept them on their toes. Messi had several opportunities to score but was unable to convert. His initial effort was parried by Crepeau, and his subsequent attempt was cleared by Derek Cornelius.
Lautaro Martinez Seals the Win
In the 88th minute, Messi produced another clinical, defense-splitting pass. This time, Lautaro Martinez made no mistake, slipping past Crepeau to make it 2-0. Argentina’s victory was well-deserved, though Canada earned credit for their fighting spirit.
Messi’s Milestone and Argentina’s Quest
Messi’s appearance broke former Chile veteran Sergio Livingstone’s record for the most appearances in Copa America history. He is also just four goals away from becoming the leading goalscorer in Copa America history, with 13 goals so far. Argentina, aiming for a record-breaking 16th title, started their campaign strongly under Messi’s leadership.
Post-Match Reactions
Messi emphasized the importance of starting the tournament with a win. “The win gives you calmness because you suffer a lot when you start with a loss,” he said. “Better that we won. We had not experienced it [to start a tournament with a win] before under [Argentina coach Lionel] Scaloni.” He praised the team’s unity and patience, which has been key to their success.
Next Match
Argentina will face Chile in a crucial Group A fixture at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday, June 25. With Lionel Messi leading the team, Argentina will aim to continue their strong start and move closer to another Copa America title.
