In the 49th minute, Lionel Messi’s precise through ball paved the way for Julián Álvarez’s goal, and in the 88th minute, he provided the assist for Lautaro Martínez’s goal, propelling Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Canada as they commenced their defense of the Copa América title.
Having previously triumphed in the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup, Argentina is now aiming for a remarkable third consecutive major title.
The Copa América, which has been relocated to the United States for the second time, witnessed Messi making history by participating in his 35th match, surpassing Sergio Livingstone of Chile (1941-53) to set a new record. Additionally, Messi also extended his own record by notching his 18th assist in the tournament.
On Monday, as Messi celebrated his 37th birthday, he showcased his brilliance on the field. In the early stages of the game, he played a pivotal role in creating the first goal. From a throw-in, Messi executed a perfect header, slicing through the defense and providing a precise pass to Alexis MacAllister. MacAllister then calmly side-footed the ball to Álvarez, who found himself in front of an onrushing goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. Álvarez seized the opportunity and slotted the ball into the net, securing his eighth goal in 32 international appearances.
Continuing his dominance, Messi extended his Copa América record by orchestrating another goal. Making a powerful run through the center of the midfield, he rolled a pass to Martínez, who confidently converted it into his 25th international goal.
Although Messi had several scoring opportunities throughout the match, he was unlucky not to add to his tally. In the 65th minute, Crépeau made a spectacular diving save, denying Messi’s initial attempt, and defender Derek Cornelius blocked his follow-up shot with his head. In the 79th minute, Messi found himself in a one-on-one situation with Crépeau but failed to find the target with a delicate chip.
Despite enduring a heavy tackle from defender Moïse Bombito in the 82nd minute, Messi showed his resilience and continued to contribute to the game.
On Tuesday, Argentina will face off against Chile at East Rutherford, New Jersey, and will then wrap up the first round against Peru on June 29 at Miami Gardens, Florida. Meanwhile, Canada will take on Peru on Tuesday at Kansas City, Kansas, and will conclude the group stage by going head-to-head with Chile on June 29 at Orlando, Florida.
This tournament, which will run until June 14 and conclude in Miami Gardens, Florida, will be hosted by fourteen U.S. stadiums. It follows the same format as the centennial Copa América in 2016, with six nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean joining the ten South American teams.
Despite slow starts, Argentina has managed to win their previous two tournaments. In the 2022 World Cup, they suffered a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening match, and in the 2021 Copa América, they started with a 1-1 draw against Chile.
Canada will be making their Copa América debut under the guidance of American coach Jesse Marsch, who was hired on May 13 and will lead the team in their first competitive match.
Following a Major League Soccer game on Saturday, grass was installed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, replacing the usual artificial turf.
In the 2022 World Cup final victory over France, Argentina made several changes to their starting lineup. Eight players who started in the final were included, with Lisandro Martínez, Marcos Acuña, and Leandro Paredes replacing Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, and Enzo Fernández, respectively.
During the match, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez showcased his skills in the 43rd minute. He used his left hand to deflect a bounced header from Stephen Eustáquio.
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This report was provided by The Associated Press.