Frank Christian
As defending champions, Argentina relies on the exceptional leadership of Lionel Messi as they progress in the 2024 Copa America.
Messi’s international career took a remarkable turn since 2021, leading Argentina to victory in the Copa America and the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Despite being 37, Messi remains the focal point for Argentina as they aim for another title.
While there is uncertainty about Messi playing in the 2026 World Cup, 2024 marks his final Copa America, seeking a fairy tale ending in the United States.
Messi’s Copa America Title
The 2021 victory was Messi’s first major title with Argentina, finally securing a win in a final after three previous losses.
His Copa America journey has been marked by challenges, which culminated in triumph in Rio de Janeiro.
| Year | Host Nation | Stage Reached | Eliminated by |
| 2007 | Venezuela | Runners Up | Brazil |
| 2011 | Argentina | Quarterfinal | Uruguay |
| 2015 | Chile | Runners Up | Chile |
| 2016 | USA | Runners Up | Chile |
| 2019 | Brazil | Semifinal | Brazil |
| 2021 | Brazil | Champions | — |
Messi’s Copa America Performance
Messi holds records for the most international caps (186) and goals (109) for Argentina, highlighting his significant impact on the national team.
During the 2024 Copa America, Messi set a new record for the most appearances in the tournament, playing his 35th game against Canada.
Scoring 14 goals in the competition, Messi aims to break the record of 17 goals.
| Year | Host Nation | Games Played | Goals Scored | Stage Reached | Eliminated by |
| 2007 | Venezuela | 6 | 2 | Runners Up | Brazil |
| 2011 | Argentina | 5 | 0 | Quarterfinal | Uruguay |
| 2015 | Chile | 6 | 1 | Runners Up | Chile |
| 2016 | USA | 6 | 5 | Runners Up | Chile |
| 2019 | Brazil | 5 | 1 | Semifinal | Brazil |
| 2021 | Brazil | 6 | 4 | Champions | — |
| 2024 | USA | 4 | 1 | TBD | TBD |
Messi’s Copa America Final Moments
Messi’s initial Copa America final in 2007 ended in a 3-0 loss to Brazil, setting the tone for future encounters.
Notably, Argentina’s defeats against Chile in the 2015 and 2016 finals were defining moments of heartbreak for Messi.
In these matches, despite his individual brilliance, Argentina fell short against a resilient Chile side.
Following defeats, Messi briefly retired from international football before making a triumphant return to pursue further success.
