Messi and Argentina advanced to their second consecutive Copa America final after defeating Canada 2-0 on July 10. This could be the final dance of the 37-year-old superstar.
New records
” Messi and the Argentina team arrive in Miami this weekend to play the 2024 Copa America final at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. They will try to make history by winning three consecutive major tournaments including the Copa America and the World Cup (2021, 2022 and 2024). Messi’s last dance will therefore be more spectacular than ever,” AS ( Spain) expressed.
Messi will play his last match in his national team career at Copa America on July 15?
AFP
Messi scored one goal in Argentina’s 2-0 semi-final win over Canada, and the other was scored by striker Julian Alvarez. With this goal and an assist in the opening match, also a 2-0 win over Canada, Messi set new records for himself. He played the most matches in Copa America history (38 matches), scored a total of 14 goals – equaling the record of two players Paolo Guerrero (Peru) and Eduardo Vargas (Chile) – and was only 3 goals behind the two top scorers: Norberto Mendez (Argentina) and Zizinho (Brazil) – both with 17 goals. He also had the most assists (18 times).
In his international career, Messi raised his record to 109 goals after 186 matches for the Argentina national team. This record helped Messi officially surpass former player Ali Daei (Iran, scored 108 goals), to become the second person to score the most goals in the history of world football, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo (scored 130 goals).
Future Uncertain
However, these records no longer mean much to Messi. He said: “What I enjoy most right now, and enjoy every moment, is being with the Argentina team in another final. To reach the final again is not easy. The current team is amazing, they do the craziest things with me. We have won the last 3 finals (Copa America 2021, Intercontinental Super Cup 2022 and World Cup 2022). This time, we try to win another championship trophy. Matches like this, can all be the last matches of my career with the team. I am enjoying it to the fullest.”
“For me, this is definitely the last Copa America of my career. I also played my last World Cup (in 2022). We are playing for the last time with ‘Fide’ (forward Angel Di Maria), ‘Ota’ (centre-back Nicolas Otamendi) and even me, who are 36-37 years old. I enjoy everything. Hopefully, we will lift the championship again, to give it to Fide, Ota and myself another big title,” Messi shared.
Amidst the joy and satisfaction of the end of Messi’s career, there is also a sense of unease for fans around the world, as they know that the time to stop playing for the best player in football history is coming to an end. No one knows whether Messi will continue to play for Argentina until the 2026 World Cup or not, as he himself always says: “It all depends on a lot of things. In the next two years, a lot can happen.”
