After starting for Argentina in their opening 2-0 victory over Canada on Thursday, Lionel Messi has now made 35 appearances at the Copa América, setting a new record in that regard.
With his inclusion in Lionel Scaloni’s starting lineup in Atlanta, the Inter Miami CF attacker overtook Chile’s Sergio Livingstone (34 caps). Bolívia’s Víctor Agustín Ugarte (30) and Brazil’s Zizinho (33 caps) complete the top four.
Messi, who turns 37 on Monday, also added an 18th assist to his Copa América record after he set up Lautaro Martínez for Argentina’s second goal with a superbly weighted pass.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game. Luckily, we found the goal early in the second half, but Canada still managed to complicate the game for us,” Messi said after the game.
“Most opponents play differently against us. Our key is to be patient and move the ball from side to side.”
The former Barcelona forward debuted in the 2007 Conmebol tournament, starting a match against Venezuela under former Argentina manager Alfio Basile. Messi went on to feature in La Albicelete’s six matches in 2007, including a 3-0 final loss to Brazil.
Since then, he has played in the 2011, ’15, ’16, ’19, ’21, and ’24 editions of the Copa América to reach his total of 35 appearances. Argentina won the title three years ago to bring their total number of Copa wins to 15, but it was the first time they had done so during the Messi era.
The record for the most goals scored in the Copa América could soon be broken by the illustrious forward. With 35 games played, he is now at 13, and if he scores four at the competition hosted by the United States, he will tie Zizinho and Norberto Méndez of Argentina at 17.
After winning the 2021 edition and the 2022 World Cup, Argentina would become the first team in South American history to win three major tournament titles in a row if they won the Copa América.
Following their victories in the 2010 World Cup, Spain is the only team to have accomplished the feat, having won the European Championship in both 2008 and 2012.
