Inter Miami’s star forward Lionel Messi propelled Argentina to the Copa America final with a 2-0 victory against Canada. The 37-year-old doubled Argentina’s lead six minutes into the second half by deflecting a shot from Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez past Canada’s goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
The World Cup champions initially went ahead through Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, who scored after receiving a pass from Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo de Paul and finishing from close range.
This marks the sixth time in the last eight editions that Argentina, who have won the Copa America 15 times, have reached the final. The upcoming match will be Angel di Maria’s last for Argentina before retiring from international play, and there are questions regarding Messi’s future as well.
Messi expressed his sentiments to TyC Sports, saying, “Let’s savor this moment as a team, as a group. It’s not easy to reach another final and compete for the championship again.” He added, “I’m enjoying every moment, knowing, like Fideo (Di Maria) and Ota (Nicolas Otamendi), that these are our final battles.”
Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, mentioned he would try to persuade Di Maria and Messi to continue their international careers. “For Leo (Messi), it’s similar to Angel,” Scaloni said. “We need to give him space and never be the ones to shut the door. He can stay with the team as long as he desires. Even if he retires but wants to remain involved, it would be fantastic.”
Canada, ranked 48th globally, struggled to find their footing after Alvarez’s goal. Their winger, Jacob Shaffelburg from Nashville, missed significant opportunities early in the match. Lille’s Jonathan David had Canada’s best chance in first-half stoppage time, but his effort was saved by Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.
Despite their loss, Canada exceeded expectations in their first Copa America appearance. The team, co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and the USA, will play in the third-place match on Sunday against the loser of the Uruguay vs. Colombia semi-final.
Coach Jesse Marsch praised his team’s effort, saying, “I know they’re disappointed, but I’m extremely proud of them. We’ve delivered some remarkable performances as we start this journey.” Marsch also emphasized the importance of expanding Canada’s “player pool” in the coming years.
The semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia is scheduled for Thursday, 11 July at 01:00 BST, and the Copa America final will take place on Monday, 15 July at 01:00 BST.
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