Argentina's Triumph in Copa América Opener against Canada
The Argentina national team, led by Lionel Messi, began their Copa América 2024 campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Canada at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This match, attended by over 70,000 spectators, saw Argentina dominate the game with multiple scoring opportunities.
Messi Breaks Historic Record
Lionel Messi, starting in the lineup, broke the historic appearance record for a player in the Copa América, marking his 35th appearance in the continental tournament. Messi's performance on the pitch was pivotal, providing several moments of magic that helped his team secure the win. His sublime passes led to both goals for Argentina.
The first goal came in the 49th minute after a beautiful team move. A quick combination of passes ended with a wonderful deep ball from Messi to Alexis Mac Allister. Although Mac Allister was stopped by Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, the ball reached Julian Álvarez, who scored his first goal since the World Cup semi-finals.
Despite missing two one-on-one situations, Messi continued to create opportunities. In the 88th minute, he provided another great deep pass to Lautaro Martínez, who sealed the victory with a second goal.
Looking Ahead
Argentina's next match is scheduled against Chile between Tuesday and Wednesday night. Messi will aim to find the back of the net himself and move closer to the tournament's historical goal record, from which he is only four goals away.
- Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and forward Lautaro Martinez celebrated their team's victory at the end of the opening Copa América match. Canada pressed perfectly to create some chances in the first half, with Ángel Di María wasting a clear opportunity after a breakaway from his own half.
- After trailing, Canada continued to press, but the entry of veteran center back Nicolás Otamendi provided Argentina with the stability needed in defense. The second half was dominated by Argentina, which had multiple scoring opportunities, including two from Messi and one from Lautaro Martínez.
