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Sunday’s Copa America final will likely be the last time Lionel Messi plays for Argentina in a major international tournament.
Messi admitted that he is now 37 years old la albicelesteThe 2-0 win over Canada in the semi-finals showed that “these are the last fights.”
Standing in the way of the defending champions is the historic Colombia team, which has not tasted defeat in 28 matches after defeating Uruguay 1-0 to reach the final and broke the previous national unbeaten record of 27 which stood for 20 years. Is.
Los Cafeteros There will be an extra boost of confidence considering Argentina and Messi were below their best performances during the tournament – Messi scored his first goal against Canada in the semi-finals.
However, it seems as if a group of players are on a mission to give Messi the perfect farewell. As was the case in the 2021 Copa America triumph, which ended an 18-year trophy drought for the national team, this run has felt like a true team effort.
That year, Ángel Di María stepped up significantly during the tournament and scored the winning goal in the final, while this edition saw Lautaro Martínez emerge as the Golden Boot leader with four goals in five matches.
“That’s why Colombia hasn’t lost for so long,” Messi told Fox Argentina. “This is a national team with really good players, very intense and has fast and dynamic players.
“It is the final and finals are always a different game, but we are doing well. We are calm like the whole tournament, enjoying whatever is happening to us and wondering how the final will be.
“What this group has done is crazy,” Messi said after defeating Canada.
“What a fun time,” he told Optus Sports. “We have to enjoy it, everything that we are experiencing as a national team, as a community, as a group. As I said, reaching another final is not easy.
“What we’ve been through and what we’ve accomplished is very difficult.”
Should Argentina win on Sunday, la albiceleste This would equal Spain’s record of winning three consecutive major international tournaments between 2008–2012.
For Colombia, the resurgence of James Rodriguez has proven crucial not only during the entire unbeaten run, but especially during this Copa America.
Manager Nestor Lorenzo will likely be in the running for multiple Coach of the Year trophies when awards season arrives, and the Argentine has recently reiterated the importance of captain and veteran Rodriguez to the team.
The former Real Madrid player has been in and out of the national team in recent years – failing to make the squad for the 2021 Copa America – as his club career stalled following his departure. los blancos In 2020.
But in an extended, free-roaming role this Copa, Rodriguez has provided six assists – an all-time record for one edition – including setting up the winner against Uruguay on Wednesday.
“This is what I’ve been wanting to be here (with the national team) for almost 13 years,” Rodriguez told TYC Sports after reaching the final. “Was very happy.”
Rodríguez recorded a hat-trick of assists along with one goal in a nearly perfect individual performance in a 5–0 quarterfinal win over Panama.
Notably, Colombia last reached the final in 2001 and that year’s trophy remains the only Copa América title in the country’s history.
Although there won’t be another multimillion-dollar transfer to Real Madrid after this tournament, Rodriguez is playing his best football Los Cafeteros Since taking the world by storm at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, during which he won the Golden Boot and scored the Puskas Award-winning goal against Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
Colombia came third in the last two editions of the Copa America and have at least guaranteed themselves a better spot this time, but Rodriguez – and the rest of the country – feel confident of overtaking defending champions Argentina and becoming king of the Americas. Will be doing.
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