Argentina took the lead within the 22nd minute via Julian Alvarez, and Messi doubled the benefit within the 51st minute by redirecting Enzo Fernandez’s shot into the purpose, beating goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
Messi’s spectacular tally of 28 objectives in his final 25 matches for Argentina, together with 14 in Copa America, places him simply three shy of the document.
With 130 worldwide objectives, solely Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has scored greater than Messi. Iran’s Al Daei, who performed from 1993 to 2006, had both 108 or 109 objectives, with a lingering dispute over the validity of a purpose towards Ecuador in 2000.
Argentina’s victory on its independence day prolonged their unbeaten streak to 10 video games. The Albiceleste are aiming for a document 16th Copa title once they face both Uruguay or Colombia within the closing on Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Argentine workforce is striving to emulate the feat achieved by Spain, who received the 2008 and 2012 European Championships together with the 2010 World Cup, by securing back-to-back Copa America titles round their 2022 World Cup triumph.
Argentine followers gathered in Occasions Sq. the night time earlier than the match and crammed the streets of Manhattan earlier than making their technique to MetLife Stadium, the venue for the 2026 World Cup closing. The gang of 80,102 spectators, regardless of the warmth and humidity, was overwhelmingly in assist of Argentina, with just a few sections dominated by red-clad Canadian followers.
This match was among the many most vital for Canadian soccer, because the nation had beforehand gone winless in its solely World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022, with their sole main title coming on the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Argentina had already crushed Canada 2-Zero within the event opener on June 20.
Canada’s star performer Alphonso Davies was pressured to go away the sector within the 71st minute after his proper leg was caught in a clear problem with Gonzalo Montiel.
Messi, making his 38th Copa America look, had missed Argentina’s group stage finale resulting from a leg harm and performed a subdued 90 minutes within the quarterfinal victory over Ecuador. He narrowly missed the goal from the highest of the penalty space within the 12th minute after exchanging passes with Ángel Di María, and once more within the 44th minute, earlier than chipping the ball over the crossbar in first-half harm time.
Argentina took the lead when Rodrigo De Paul performed a protracted go from the middle circle to Álvarez, who managed the ball on the prime of the arc, away from Moise Bombito. Álvarez then created area from Bombito and slipped the ball between the legs of Crepeau from close to the penalty spot, scoring his ninth purpose in 35 worldwide appearances.
Messi scored following a throw-in, centering the ball to De Paul, who ran to the top line and reduce the ball again. Kone’s tried clearance went to Fernandez, who teed up a shot that Messi redirected from simply contained in the 6-yard field.
