Lionel Messi & Four Stars to Watch in Copa America Semifinals

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are the favorites to repeat, and he remains the biggest reason legions of old and new fans are tuning into the summertime tournament. 

While the world is watching every move of the 37-year-old bidding to win a third major international tournament in four years, Messi’s likely last run is one of several compelling storylines to follow as CONMEBOL decides its continental champion. 

Here are four other stars to know entering the semifinals this week: 

James Rodriguez, Colombia

Now 32, the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner is a reminder that the future is promised to no one. But he is delivering a reminder of another kind in Copa America ‘24. 

Rodriguez scored a goal and assisted on two more in the first half of the Colombia blowout of Panama, 5-0, on Saturday. He’s helping hoist Colombia into the conversation as legitimate championship contenders. 

To rewind 10 years, Rodriguez was expected to be one of those in line to succeed Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as the game’s top star. That never quite happened. 

Through six seasons at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, he was good, not great. And his European decline came quickly, with stops at Everton and Olympiacos before joining Brazil’s Sao Paulo. 

He remains irreplaceable for Colombia, however, assisting on five of their first nine goals and involving himself in the majority of the Cafeteros menacing attacks. He’s the best pure striker of the ball in this tournament, even better than Messi, and he drilled a penalty kick for a 15th-minute score in the quarterfinals. 

Darwin Nunez, Uruguay

Liverpool fans will know Nunez as the relentless winger who can be frustrating in front of goal. But he’s become a more productive striker for the national team under Marcelo Bielsa.

It makes sense. Two of Nunez’s biggest strengths are his pace and work rate, both traits that are amplified when playing Bielsa’s manic tactical scheme.

His scoring streak for Uruguay came to a halt at seven games in a 1-0 win over the United States. But he’s still alive for the tournament scoring title and entered the quarterfinal against Brazil having scored in their previous meeting, an October World Cup qualifier. Nunez had a couple of near-misses in the PK win over Brazil.

Lautaro Martinez, Argentina

If there’s an embodiment of just how loaded with talent the current Argentina national team is, it’s Lautaro Martinez. 

The 26-year-old was the Italian Serie A’s runaway scoring champion with 24 goals and the league’s MVP. And yet the center forward found himself in the supersub role for Lionel Scaloni’s group, coming into the tournament behind Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez. 

Martinez has responded in the best possible way, scoring four goals across Argentina’s first three games despite appearing in the first two as a substitute. That tracks with a club season where he demonstrated greater efficiency, scoring on 50% of his shots on target in Serie A and hitting the target on 41.9% of his total shots. Both were career highs. 

Alphonso Davies, Canada

In the country’s first-ever Copa America appearance, Canada earned a rematch with Group A foes and defending champion Argentina on Tuesday in East Rutherford, N.J. Argentina defeated Canada in the tournament’s opening match 2-0 in Atlanta after a scoreless first half. 

Davies serves as Canada’s captain, and the 23-year-old Bayern Munich left back is arguably the best player in CONCACAF. He’s definitely the federation’s best player remaining in the tournament after Mexico and the United States crashed out in the group stage. 

He plays a more advanced role for his national team in left midfield, but it’s a simple transition since he also played in wide midfield, coming through the Vancouver Whitecaps academy and then their MLS first team. 

He has yet to directly contribute to a goal; Canada advanced while scoring only two goals thanks to penalty kicks, but he made four goal contributions (goals plus assists) during the final round of 2022 World Cup qualifying and also scored one goal at the Wold Cup proper.

If Canada is to pull the upset this week, it’ll need Davies to deliver on opportunities he missed in the first match, including a follow that sailed over the bar.