Lionel Messi Pleases Fans In New York As Argentina Reach Copa America Final

Messi. 10. The name and number that could seen on the back of jerseys worn throughout the hot concrete streets of New York City in the buildup to this Copa America semifinal pitting Argentina against Canada.

It was mostly on display on the back of Argentina jerseys, but there was the occasional Inter Miami shirt to be found, perhaps more than might be expected, and evidence of his impact on the Major League Soccer franchise.

Those hoping to glimpse Lionel Messi in action were not disappointed. Lautaro Martínez went into this game as the tournament’s top scorer, and its most productive striker, but had to settle for a place on the bench as coach Lionel Scaloni chose Julián Álavarez to partner Messi in attack from the start.

What made this game even more intriguing was that Canada has had something about it in this tournament. It has had to to get this far, knocking out an impressive Venezuela in the quarterfinals, and generally troubling opposition sides with their counter-attacking and counter-pressing.

They were also the one remaining Concacaf nation of the six invited to this Conmebol tournament.

Canada showed from the off that it might trouble Argentina. Jacob Shaffleburg had a couple of early sights at goal, managing to get relatively free down the left-hand side.

Canada was a tidier final ball away from a bigger chance and looked dangerous whenever they carried it forward on the break. The more threatening attacking play certainly came from the team in red in the opening 20 minutes.

But it was Argentina who grabbed the opening goal, swiftly and almost out of nowhere. The quality of the chance was mostly down to the weight and direction of Álvarez’s first touch.

Rodrigo De Paul’s direct through-pass from midfield seemed to be heading to Ávarez’s left, but his sticky touch took it to his right and away from Canada defender Moïse Bombito. It was then slotted past Maxime Crepeau.

Messi looked like he had decided this would be the game in which to score his first goal of the tournament. He drifted a shot wide early on and later turned Alistair Johnston inside out before shooting right-footed just wide of the near post.

Jonathan David tested Emiliano Martinez’s concentration from close range at the near post just before halftime from a Johnston throw but Canada still lacked the ability to create a clear-cut chance.

There seemed to be some confusion when Messi's goal eventually came. Many in attendance, even those of an Argentinian persuasion seemed to merely acknowledge the goal rather than celebrate it.

The stadium camera still picking out members of the crowd rather than having returned to the action on the field to show the goal probably contributed to the muted reaction.

Messi turned the ball in the net, diverting Enzo Fernández’s shot, and any subsequent questions asked about the goal deemed it fine. It turned out Derek Cornelius played Messi onside when the shot was hit by Fernández.

As it started, with the expectation and the adoration, the worship and the adulation of Messi, number 10; so it ended, with Messi’s first goal at the Copa America 2024 and an indication he was coming to the fore just in time for the final in Miami.

Canada was an awkward opponent but didn’t have the quality in the final third. Even when substitute Tani Oluwaseyi had the best of Canada’s chances late on, he couldn’t find the net.

Argentina, on the other hand, is not the World Cup winner and defending Copa America champion by accident. It has quality all across the pitch and has one of the greatest of all time in its ranks still performing at a high level even at 37.

An official attendance of 80,102 was announced, and the majority, wearing Messi, 10, on their backs, will have left happy, having not only witnessed their idol in action but having also seen him score the goal which confirmed their progress to another final.