{"id":6102,"date":"2024-07-01T12:21:40","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T12:21:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=6102"},"modified":"2024-07-01T12:21:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T12:21:42","slug":"how-is-messi-and-argentina-doing-in-the-copa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/how-is-messi-and-argentina-doing-in-the-copa","title":{"rendered":"How is Messi and his band of brothers doing in the Copa America?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/argentina-2378\">Argentina<\/a>, led by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lionel-messi-874\">Lionel Messi<\/a> and arguably the best football team in the world, is on an impressive run in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/copa-america-595\">2024 Copa America<\/a>. Fresh off their victories in the delayed 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, the team looks poised to claim yet another title this year. Despite concerns over Lionel Messi&#8217;s fitness, the legendary forward has been instrumental in Argentina&#8217;s dominance. The team has won all three of their matches so far, maintaining a perfect record with three wins and zero goals conceded. With such formidable form, Argentina is solidifying its status as a powerhouse in international football, and fans are eagerly anticipating more spectacular performances as the tournament progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>The Rundown<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#messis-performances-and-injury-woes\">Messi&#8217;s performances and injury woes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#lautaro-martinez-is-on-fire\">Lautaro Martinez is on fire<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#cristian-romero-x-lisandro-martinez-is-an-incredible-partnership\">Cristian Romero x Lisandro Martinez is an INCREDIBLE partnership<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"messis-performances-and-injury-woes\">Messi&#8217;s performances and injury woes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Messi is no longer the Messi of 2014, where he could comfortably play 60 games a season for club and country. The 2024 Messi is still supremely talented but is also 37 years old. He started the opening two games against Canada and Chile, grabbing an assist in the former and being a nightmare to defend against (as always) in both games. Unfortunately for him and the footballing world, he picked up an injury in his upper leg and was sidelined for the Peru game. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-2159867865-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Messi is a certified legend\" class=\"wp-image-6105\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.499267935578331;width:712px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Incredible photo. Everyone wants a glimpse of the GOAT (Photo by Hector Vivas\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>He is hopeful to return for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/copa-america-595\/argentina-ecuador-2378-5075-595#id=4163374\">Argentina&#8217;s next game vs. Ecuador on July 5th.<\/a> Even in his stead, Argentina had the capabilities to dispatch Peru, with other talented players stepping up and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/alejandro-garnacho-109995\">Alejandro Garnacho<\/a> stepping into the starting team. Against Ecuador, Argentina will probably have the quality to win, even without Messi, but when they progress and have to face either Uruguay or Brazil in the later rounds, he will be imperative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">From wonderkid to champion ?<br><br>18 years ago today, Messi announced himself on the World Cup stage with his 1st goal ?<br><br>16 years later, he&#39;s holding the trophy ? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zugLbBm7Ir\">pic.twitter.com\/zugLbBm7Ir<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1802336958175162527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">June 16, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lautaro-martinez-is-on-fire\">Lautaro Martinez is on fire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lautaro-martinez-38667\">Lautaro Martinez&#8217;s<\/a> journey from the 2022 World Cup disappointment to the top scorer in the 2024 Copa America is nothing short of magical. He&#8217;s scored four goals in three appearances, but he&#8217;s only started once. He&#8217;s averaging a goal every 30 minutes! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having been benched in favor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/julian-alvarez-61973\">Julian Alvarez<\/a> during the World Cup and failing to score a single goal, Martinez has now found the net in all three group games of the Copa America. He led the line with authority in the third game, scoring twice against Peru and becoming the tournament&#8217;s top scorer. His impressive form provides coach Scaloni with plenty of options for the knockout rounds, as Martinez has scored nine goals in 13 Copa America career matches, on the back of a 27-goal season with Inter Milan. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-2159873787-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Lautaro has been quality in Messi's stead\" class=\"wp-image-6104\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">What a player. Lautaro Martinez is STEPPING UP to the challenge (Photo by Hector Vivas\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cristian-romero-x-lisandro-martinez-is-an-incredible-partnership\">Cristian Romero x Lisandro Martinez is an INCREDIBLE partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Argentina have not conceded a goal yet in the Copa America. These two are a massive reason why. They are incredible. Two pitbulls. Warriors who want to win every ball and instill fear into opposition strikers. They sniff out danger and crush it as soon as possible. They&#8217;re passionate and hungry. Both Premier League stars, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/cristian-romero-44331\">Romero&#8217;s<\/a> aerial ability is imperative whilst <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lisandro-martinez-51322\">Lisandro&#8217;s<\/a> progressing passing ranks amongst the best in the world. Their synergy and tenacity make them a nightmare for any opponent, embodying the relentless spirit of this Argentina team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">For the first time ever, Argentina will start with a CB pair of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Mart\u00ednez ?? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pNzFreH400\">pic.twitter.com\/pNzFreH400<\/a><\/p>&mdash; All About Argentina ??? (@AlbicelesteTalk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlbicelesteTalk\/status\/1799893309545976148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">June 9, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-widget-type=\"predictions\" data-entity-type=\"game\" data-widget-id=\"0.31nxnovdi7v\" data-lang=\"en-US\" data-entity-id=\"4163374\" data-publisher-id=\"125\" data-show-odds=\"true\" data-odds-type=\"decimal\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"powered-by\">Powered by<a id=\"powered-by-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">365Scores.com<\/a><\/div>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/widgets.365scores.com\/main.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>By Nicky Helfgott \/ @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter (X)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the latest Copa America news and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/copa-america-595\">live scores<\/a>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;365Scores website and app!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"riddle2-wrapper\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; max-width: 100%; width: 640px;\" data-rid-id=\"U3TjkP20\" data-auto-scroll=\"true\" data-is-fixed-height-enabled=\"false\" data-bg=\"#fff\" data-fg=\"#00205b\"><script src=\"https:\/\/www.riddle.com\/embed\/build-embedjs\/embedV2.js\"><\/script><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.riddle.com\/embed\/a\/U3TjkP20?lazyImages=false&amp;staticHeight=false\"><section data-block=\"SingleChoice\"><h2>Who&#8217;s going to win the Copa America 2024?<\/h2><ul><li>Brazil<\/li><li>Argentina<\/li><li>Uruguay<\/li><li>Colombia<\/li><li>Other (let us know who @365Scores on Twitter)<\/li><\/ul><\/section><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Argentina, led by Lionel Messi and arguably the best football team in the world, is on an impressive run in the 2024 Copa America. Fresh off their victories in the delayed 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, the team looks poised to claim yet another title this year. Despite concerns over Lionel Messi&#8217;s &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":6103,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,2015],"tags":[842,2155,269,2124,1304,841,318,851,82,2156],"class_list":["post-6102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","category-copa-america","tag-angel-di-maria","tag-argetina","tag-copa-america","tag-cristian-romero","tag-garnacho","tag-lautaro-martinez","tag-lisandro-martinez","tag-maradona","tag-messi","tag-rodrigo-de-paul"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6102\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6103"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}