Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Canada on Tuesday, July 9 in the semifinals in East Rutherford (New Jersey), left star Lionel Messi ready for the dispute of their fifth final in seven Copa América appearances.
In his history in the Conmebol national team tournament, the oldest in the world, the Albiceleste captain, world champion in 2022, will defend the continental title won in Brazil-2021 on Sunday in Miami.
In seven historic appearances in the Copa América, Messi has been champion once to date and has lost the finals in Venezuela-2007, Chile-2015 and Centenario-2016 in United States.
1. Venezuela-2007: first frustration in its continental debut
Making his Copa América debut at just 20 years old, Messi was part of the Albiceleste team led on the field by Juan Román Riquelme, Javier Mascherano, Roberto Ayala and Juan Sebastián Verón, among the most prominent.
Argentina, coached by Alfio Basile, reached the final following winning Group A with victories over the United States (4-1), Colombia (4-2) and Paraguay (1-0). In the quarterfinals they eliminated Peru (4-0) and in the semifinals they defeated Mexico 3-0.
In the final once morest Brazil came the disappointment. The Seleçao, which had Robinho, Julio Baptista and Maicon as its star players, beat Argentina 3-0 in Maracaibo, in a match in which Messi, who at that time was already shining in the world, might do little in the 90 minutes.
Messi left the Cup with two goals scored, one once morest Peru and another once morest Mexico, the latter considered one of the most brilliant in the Argentine squad for his execution and technical quality.
2. Chile-2015: a hard blow following the sadness of the 2014 World Cup
Under the orders of Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, Argentina sought to find happiness in the 2015 Copa América in Chile a year following the pain suffered in the final lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Albiceleste won Group C by drawing 2-2 with Paraguay in their debut and beating Uruguay and Jamaica 1-0. Colombia was their victim in the quarter-finals in a match won on penalties 5-4 following a 0-0 draw in the 90 minutes.
They would face Paraguay once more in the semi-finals, but this time the Albirroja were thrashed 6-1.
In the final in Santiago, Chile lifted its first continental trophy thanks to its Golden Generation by winning on penalties 4-1following a 0-0 draw following 120 minutes. Messi was the only Argentine to score a shot.
The captain of the Albiceleste team left this edition with just one goal scored, also from the white spot in the 2-2 draw with Paraguay.
3. Centenario-2016 in the United States: Messi resigns from the Albiceleste
Chile once more stood in Argentina’s way in the final of the Centenary edition of the Copa América in the United States, with La Roja winning the continental championship in another penalty shootout in which they won 4-2 following a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes.
Messi missed his shot and it was then, dejected and in pain, that he announced to the world of football at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford (New Jersey) that he was resigning from the Albiceleste..
“For me, the national team is done. It’s over. That’s it. I fought hard. I tried. There are now four finals and I mightn’t win them. I did everything possible and it hurts me more than anyone, but it’s obvious that it’s not for me. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for me,” said the number 10 in the early hours of June 27, 2016.
Argentina, led by Martino, had a brilliant first phase, winning once morest Chile (2-1), Panama (5-0) and Bolivia (3-0). They beat Venezuela (4-1) in the quarterfinals and in the semifinals the host team was thrashed 4-0.
Messi stood out in the Cup with five goals – a hat-trick once morest Panama and a great free-kick once morest the United States – and four assists, but the missed penalty in the final ruined his brilliant performance.
4. Brazil-2021: Argentina and Messi champions of America
Amid a deafening silence in the stadiums, with no spectators present due to the pandemic, Argentina was crowned champion in Brazil-2021 following 28 years without titles in various competitions.
And he did so at the Maracaná temple and once morest Brazil, his bitter historical archrival, with a 1-0 victory to write the beginning of one of the most glorious periods of Argentine football, with the ‘bonus track’ of Messi’s first title with the senior team.
Argentina, led by Lionel Scaloni, won Group A with victories over Uruguay (1-0), Paraguay (1-0), Bolivia (4-1) and a draw (1-1) with Chile in the debut. In the quarterfinals, they eliminated Ecuador (3-0) and in the semifinals they beat Colombia in a penalty shootout 3-2 following a 1-1 draw in the 90 minutes.
Messi shared the Cup’s top scorer award with Colombian Luis Díaz with 4 goals and led the assists statistics with 5.
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