Messi Orchestrates, Argentina Opens Copa America Defense with 2–0 Win over Canada
Lionel Messi, the ageless maestro, pulled the strings as Argentina began their Copa America title defense with a controlled 2–0 victory over Canada at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. While the scoreline suggests a comfortable win, Canada put up a valiant fight, especially in the first half.
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Argentina dominated possession but struggled to break down a resolute Canadian defense in the opening 45 minutes. Angel Di Maria had the best chance for La Albiceleste, squandering a golden opportunity after a mazy run from midfield.
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The deadlock was broken just four minutes after the restart. Messi, ever the playmaker, threaded a sublime pass to Alexis Mac Allister, who unsettled the Canadian defense. The resulting scramble saw the ball fall kindly for Julian Alvarez, who tapped home into an empty net.
Canada responded well to falling behind, applying pressure in search of an equalizer. However, the introduction of the experienced Nicolas Otamendi at the back solidified the Argentine defense.
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The win was sealed in the 88th minute when Messi, with a trademark run through midfield, found substitute Lautaro Martinez with a perfectly weighted pass. Martinez slotted the ball past the Canadian goalkeeper to secure all three points for Argentina.
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This victory marks a record-breaking night for Messi. He surpassed Chilean goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone’s record of 34 Copa America appearances, etching his name even deeper into the tournament’s history books.
Argentina will look to build on this win as they continue their quest for a third consecutive major trophy, having won the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup.
