Like Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal in Euro 2024, Messi has yet to score at this Copa America, despite assisting the team to help the team enter the knockout round after two matches. At MetLife Stadium with 82,000 seats filled, the 37-year-old captain almost broke the audience with a long-range shot that hit the post in the 36th minute. He also lifted the ball over the head of 41-year-old goalkeeper Claudio Bravo once in the second half. but still could not score against Chile.
Messi did not score, but still smiled after the final whistle, because Argentina entered the quarterfinals one round early, after two wins against Canada and Chile. That could help the 37-year-old superstar rest in the final group stage match against Peru on June 29, when he showed signs of being overloaded. At the beginning of the match against Chile, Messi had pain in his right thigh, limped several times and had to ask a doctor to massage him.
Despite showing signs of pain, Messi still caused many difficulties for Chile’s defense, as he created five opportunities for his teammates to score. However, defender Nahuel Molina or midfielder Alexis Mac Allister both squandered the captain’s chances created at the beginning of the second half. In addition, he also successfully dribbled the ball seven times in the match, with one shot between four opposing players.
There was a time when Argentina shot 17 times, but Chile still did not create any opportunities. The defending champion almost had to pay the price, if not for two saves by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez near the end of the match. The 2015 and 2016 champions caused many difficulties, forcing the world’s number one team to wait until the 88th minute to score. From Messi’s corner, the ball bounced around and Lautaro Martinez took the opportunity to kick back to the near corner to open the score for Argentina.
Just like in the opening match, Lautaro Martinez scored again after coming on as a substitute. He also missed a chance to face the final ten minutes of the match, but that did not affect the outcome of the match. Argentina increased its unbeaten streak in the Copa America to 10 matches, with the most recent defeat being 0-2 against Brazil in the 2019 semi-finals.
However, the MetLife stadium audience still seemed unhappy, because Messi was silent. At one point, they were excited because they saw the Argentine captain arguing with the referee after the end of the first half. Many people shouted “Messi, Messi” to cheer for the owner of the eight Golden Balls. It’s not surprising that he still brought the biggest attraction at the tournament, when both of Argentina’s matches had over 70,000 spectators.
