Lionel Messi pulls strings as Argentina tame Canada in Copa América opener

In a masterful display, Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 2–0 victory over Canada in their Copa América opener. The match, held in the United States, saw Messi set a Copa América record with his 35th appearance, surpassing Chile’s Sergio Livingstone. Messi’s contributions were pivotal, assisting on both goals.

The first goal came in the 49th minute. After a throw-in, Messi headed a pass through the defense to Alexis Mac Allister, who then passed to Julián Álvarez. Álvarez slotted the ball into an open net after a collision between Mac Allister and Canada’s goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. This marked Álvarez’s eighth goal in 32 international appearances.

Messi’s second assist came in the 88th minute, running through the midfield and passing to Lautaro Martínez, who scored his 25th international goal. Messi also had several scoring opportunities, with the closest in the 65th minute, but was thwarted by Crépeau and defender Derek Cornelius.

Despite a scare from a tackle by Moïse Bombito in the 82nd minute, Messi continued to play. Argentina, aiming for their third consecutive major title, will face Chile and Peru in their next group matches. Canada, debuting in Copa América, will play Peru and Chile next.

This year’s Copa América features 14 US stadiums and includes six nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean alongside the 10 South American teams. Argentina’s successful start contrasts with their slow beginnings in previous tournaments, showcasing their resilience and ambition.