Messi breaks Copa America appearance record (2024)

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Messi breaks Copa America appearance record? ›

When Messi took to the pitch for Argentina's first game of the Copa América against Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, he became the player with the most matches played in the tournament with 35 games to his name, surpassing Chile's Sergio Livingstone, who played 34 games.

Lionel Messi has played in four previous Copa America finals, losing in 2007, 2015 and 2016 before finally lifting the trophy in 2021.

TNT Sports - Lionel Messi has created more big chances (7) than any other player at Copa America 2024. Still got it.

Messi scored his first goal at the 2024 tournament against the debutants with the last touch before it crossed the line. The final against Colombia offers him one more chance to create magic on the pitch. The 27-year-old winger has managed to find the back of the net twice during the United States' tournament so far.

The Rosario native, who had already set the record for most appearances in the opening match, added another in this edition: alongside Zizinho, they are the only two players to have scored goals in six editions of the CONMEBOL Copa América™. Messi scored in the editions of 2007, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024.

2014 FIFA World Cup: Messi led the team to finals of the world cup but ended up losing to Germany 1-0. 2015 Copa America: Argentina lost to Chile on penalties (4-1) in the Copa finals. 2016 Copa America: Messi-led Argentina once again lost to Chile on penalties (4-2).

Argentina are the most successful team in Copa America, having won 16 titles.

SOCCER WORLD NEWS HQ - Most big chances created at the 2024 Copa America: ◎ 7 - Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 ◎ 5 - James Rodríguez 🇨🇴 ◎ 4 - Jacob Shaffelburg 🇨🇦 | Facebook.

He also won the 1997 Copa América, where he became the player of the tournament and the 1999 Copa América, where he was the top goalscorer. Ronaldo was one of the most marketable sportsmen in the world during his playing career.

They are two of the most decorated footballers ever, having won 77 official trophies in total (Messi 44, Ronaldo 33) during their senior careers thus far, and have regularly broken the 50-goal barrier in a single season.

How many times did Messi play in Copa America? ›

Messi has officially become the first Argentine player to play in seven different editions of the Copa América, having played in every edition since the 2007 tournament held in Venezuela. With his seventh appearance in the tournament, he also ties Héctor Scarone, Miton Melgar and Carlos Borja for third most all-time.

Messi wins another Copa America title despite his tears due to injury substitution in final. Barcelona and Argentina legend Lionel Messi clinched his second Copa America title with the national team. However, this triumph came with a heavy price.

Argentina aren't actually in Europe. The Americas have their own continental tournament, which actually takes in two continents, North America and South America. Argentina are in fact the reigning champions after winning it in 2021, with the next edition due to kick off in the United States this month.

After coming agonisingly close in 2007, 2015 and 2016, Lionel Messi finally won his first and only Copa America title in 2021 after Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the final.

The forward has won the Fifa award three times and is also a record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner following his triumph in 2023. At Qatar 2022 Messi scored seven goals, including two in the final against France. He played his 1,000th career match as Argentina beat Australia in the round of 16.

Lionel Messi is Argentina's most-capped player ever and also its all-time top scorer.

For Argentina, Messi has now won four international titles in just three years. He won the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and has also clinched two Copa Americas, and a Finalissima from 2021 to 2024.

Messi was the best player in the tournament by some distance, but not once was he the player with the most touches for his team. His chance creation, shot, and key pass numbers were all lower than they had been in years.

Messi, 37, has not played since sustaining a right ankle injury during the Copa América final against Colombia on July 14.

VAR decision: Goal disallowed, offside against Amione. VAR review: Play had been stopped for an hour and a half when news came through that Argentina's dramatic equaliser had been ruled out for offside.