EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Lionel Messi's Argentina is one win away from joining Spain as the only nations to win three consecutive major titles.
“It's incredible what this team has achieved, what Argentina is doing,” Messi said after scoring his 109th goal for the national team on Tuesday night in a 2-0 win over Canada that secured a spot in this weekend's Copa America final. “For the veteran players, it's just an emotional feeling that the national team is in the final again.”
Julián Álvarez puts the Albiceleste in front In the 22nd minute, he controlled a long pass from Rodrigo de Paul, evaded Moïse Bombit twice and smashed the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau to score his ninth international goal.
Messi deflects Enzo Fernández's shot Messi scored his first goal of the tournament in the 51st minute when a poor clearance by Ismael Koné sent the ball flying off Crepeau's face and into the goal. Messi has scored 28 goals in his last 25 matches for Argentina, including 14 in the Copa America, three short of the all-time record. He has scored against 38 countries so far.
“I didn't know if Enzo's ball was going to go in,” Messi said. “It was a knee-jerk reaction.”
Only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (130) has scored more international goals than Messi, who turned 37 on June 24. Iran's Ali Daei scored 108 or 109 goals between 1993 and 2006, although there is debate over whether his goal against Ecuador in 2000 counted as an international goal.
Argentina's Independence Day victory extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games and they will face either Uruguay or Colombia on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida, seeking a record 16th Copa title.
“You have to enjoy the moment you're living in,” Messi said, “and know that this is the last fight.”
Argentina are looking to win consecutive Copa America titles, with a view to winning the 2022 World Cup as their main focus, and hope to equal the feat achieved by Spain, who won the 2010 World Cup as well as the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.
“These are statistics. I'm not really interested in them,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through a translator. “The most important thing is to win.”
Messi was making his 38th Copa America appearance but missed Argentina's final group game with a foot injury and was sluggish throughout the full 90 minutes. Beat Ecuador in the quarterfinalsHe was much more mobile, firing shots just wide in the 12th and 44th minutes.
Messi had 45 touches and a 79% pass success rate.
“They make us pay for the little things,” Crepeau said.
The MetLife temporary turf surface seemed heavy, with water splashing and sand flying around during dribbles.
“It was a very difficult Copa America,” Messi said. “It was very competitive, the roads were bad and the heat was terrible.”
Argentina fans gathered in Times Square the night before the match and then filled the streets of Manhattan before heading to MetLife Stadium. On a night of 82-degree temperatures and 82 percent humidity, the crowd of 80,102 was overwhelmingly pro-Argentina, with only a small section made up of red-shirted Canadian supporters.
It was one of the biggest games for Canadian soccer. Canada has played in the 1986 and 2022 World Cups but has gone 0-6 in both, winning its only major title in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000. Argentina had beaten Canada 2-0 in the previous tournament. Tournament Opening June 20th.
“The tournament caught up with us a little bit,” Canada coach Jesse Marsh said. “The heat, the travel, a lot of challenges. … We're still at the beginning of the process, right? Argentina's been together maybe eight years, this team's been together seven years. So we've got to develop more players that can contribute so we can rotate through the tournament, because eventually the fitness and the fatigue will catch up with us.”
Canada star Alphonso Davies limped off in the 71st minute after being tripped on the right leg in a perfect tackle by Gonzalo Montiel.
“He's had X-rays so we're hopeful he'll be OK, but we're not sure,” Marsh said.
Canada had two shots on goal: Jonathan David's shot was denied from close range by Emiliano Martinez in first-half added time and Martinez also forced a save from Tani Oluwaseyi's kick in the 89th minute.
“We were getting sloppy, we were starting to stray from our game plan,” said defender Derek Cornelius, who swapped jerseys with Messi.
While Messi referred to “the final battle,” Scaloni and fans are hopeful that Argentina and Messi will return to MetLife for the 2026 World Cup final.
“We're never closing the door,” Scaloni said. “He can stay with us as long as he wants.”
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AP Copa America coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/copa-america
