Lionel Messi can boast of having won everything with Argentina, but he wants more to expand his legend. In an enviable track record, which includes four European Champions League titles and three Club World Cup titles, in addition to countless tournaments with FC Barcelonaand seven editions of the Ballon d’Or, also treasures the America Cup 2021, the Finalissima 2022 and the third edition of the World Cup.
In the United States it will be known if the man from Rosario can become the Albiceleste’s top scorer in the Copa América. Messi is second on this list with thirteen goals, the same as Gabriel Batistuta and José Manuel Moreno, and is four behind Norberto Méndez, who won the continental trophy three consecutive times between 1945 and 1947, when the tournament was annual.
If Argentina wins the 2024 edition, it would break the 15-way tie with Uruguay. Too many reasons to commemorate 37 years of life in style in the middle of the tournament, this June 24.
A new age
However, the relationship between Messi and the Copa América has not been the most idyllic, since of the plays, only the last one won. In the others, the Albiceleste was runner-up in 2004, 2007, 2015 and in the so-called Centenario Cup in 2016.
In the 2021 Copa América, Lionel Messi finished the tournament with 4 goals and 5 assists in 7 games. The history of the Diez with the albiceleste shirt dates back to the 2005 U-20 World Cup, which Argentina won and in which he finished as the best player.
Shortly after, the player was called up to the senior team then coached by José Pekerman, to make his official debut in 2006. In the World Cup in Germany that year, Messi became the youngest Argentine footballer to participate at the age of eighteen years and 357 days. in a World Cup.
In that debut he was also the youngest to score in that tournament. Later, he won Olympic gold in Beijing 2008, with a generation in which Sergio Agüero and Ángel di María shone.
More reasons
His growth has been exponential until he became the player with the most international caps: 180 in which he scored 106 goals and gave 54 assists. Since his arrival at Inter Miami of the American MLS, in July 2023, he has already set a record of 23 goals and 11 assists in the 25 games he has played.
In addition, he won the 2023 Leagues Cup as a qualification process for the 2024 Champions League of the North, Central America and Caribbean Football Confederation (Concacaf), in which he finished as the top scorer with 10 goals in 7 games.
Although the team fell in the quarterfinals of the tournament against the Mexican Monterrey, led by Argentine Fernando Ortiz, the Garzas team is currently the leader of the American championship, with two points ahead of the second.
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Source: Gestion
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
