Lionel Messi led Argentina to the Copa América final with a 2-0 victory over Canada in the semifinals on Tuesday. Messi scored in the second half to extend Argentina’s lead, following Julián Álvarez’s first-half goal.
This achievement marks Argentina’s return to the Copa América final for the second consecutive tournament, having won the title in 2021. Messi, at 37, reflected on the significance of reaching the final once more, expressing his enjoyment and awareness of the achievement.
Argentina will compete against either Uruguay or Colombia in the final, set to take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, acknowledged the challenge of facing the reigning world champions and noted missed opportunities early on. Despite a strong start, Jacob Shaffelburg’s missed chances and Álvarez’s goal put Canada at a disadvantage. Messi added a second goal in the early second half, benefiting from a deflected shot by Enzo Fernández, surprising Canada’s goalkeeper, Maxime Crépeau.
With this goal, Messi has now scored against 38 different teams during his international career. Though Canada did not advance to the final, the team showed potential for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which they are co-hosting with Mexico and the US. Marsch praised the tournament’s outcome, emphasizing the strong foundation laid for the future.
Canada will play in the third-place match against the loser of the other semifinal on Saturday.
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