Argentina-Chile for the Copa América in the United States should not be a good memory for any compatriot, and especially for Lionel Messi, if the final of the 2016 edition is taken into account, when Gerardo Martino’s team lost on penalties and the 10th announced his retirement. However, this Tuesday’s match, for the second date of the 2024 edition, smells like the opposite: just as Messi will arrive happy after having turned 37 this Monday -and already world champion, of course-, Lionel Scaloni announced that he will make “some adjustments” to the team that debuted with a 2-0 victory against Canada. The game will begin at 10 p.m. at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, the same venue as the 2016 final.
At the press conference this Monday, Scaloni spoke of the differences between Canada and Chile, which in the debut drew 0-0 against Peru in a very poor match: «There are always differences in the rivals. Our team plays based on how we can hurt the opponent. Let’s put the one that best suits Chile. They are two rivals who play quite differently and we have taken our precautions. The team is always there, it responds to the expectations of each game. Our formation will not change depending on how they play, we do our best and based on the game we adapt. I have the team, they still don’t know it. I’ll tell you today. The scheme will be similar to the one from the other day, we will see if we make a touch-up«
One of the changes in Argentina It would be the entry of Nicolás GonzálezFiorentina’s left winger, instead of Ángel Di María, although it also emerged that Lautaro Martínez (from Inter Italy) would be in the coach’s consideration instead of Julián Álvarez.
Talking about a rematch against Chile in the Copa América sounds like nothing for the world champions (and also continental ones, given the title in 2021), but Messi is not confident in recent triumphs: «We are in a difficult group, Now we are facing a very competitive, very good team, which the arrival of Ricardo Gareca gave something else as well,” warned number 10.
Messi’s birthday
The world was quick to react to Messi’s birthday, and social networks were filled with countless messages, photographs and videos to pay tribute to the best footballer of recent decades. The hashtags #messibirthday and #cumplemessi were all the rage on the internet.
«One more year celebrating with Celeste and Blanca. Happy birthday, captain!«, published the Argentine Football Association (AFA) on its social networks, accompanying the post with several photographs with the most memorable moments of Messi dressed in albiceleste.
FIFA, in turn, highlighted in its online accounts the phrase “A play of 37 years and 5 World Cups» and illustrated the publications with videos of Messi’s plays in the World Cups in Germany-2006, South Africa-2010, Brazil-2014, Russia-2018 and Qatar-2022.
«I want to wish a very happy birthday to Lionel Messi, captain of the winning team of the FIFA World Cup and an incredible player“You are someone who makes the world dream with your greatness. Keep doing it always and inspiring everyone to play and enjoy our beautiful game. Enjoy this special day and see you soon,” the football boss concluded.
Conmebol also joined the celebrations and wrote on their networks “HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY! Idol of Argentina and world reference. Long live Lionel Messi!«.
Immersed in the Copa América United States 2024, Messi became the footballer with the most games played in the history of the continental tournament by reaching the figure of 35 appearances in the debut against Canada. The 10th shared that honor with Chilean goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone (34 games) since the final of the Copa América in Brazil-2021, where the Albiceleste was proclaimed champion.
The 2024 Cup too could give the Argentine captain two more records: Become the top scorer in the history of the Copa América and be the first footballer to win the tournament consecutively as captain. Brazilian Zizinho and Argentine Norberto Tucho Méndez share the record of being the top scorers in the history of the Copa América with 17 goals each. Messi, with 13, needs four goals to tie them and five to establish a new record.
How Chile arrives
In Chile not everything is long faces. The coach of La Roja, the Argentine Ricardo Gareca, valued the point before his former Peruvian managers, and considered that ““We are where we started, with possibilities.”. “We had the hope of winning, but the most important thing of all is that we added up and there are two games left,” warned the ‘Tigre’.
«There is a level, there are players (…) and I am happy with the performance. Then obviously we had chances. I had one or two and this is the Copa América. When you have a chance you have to make it,” stressed Alexis Sánchez, the Inter Milan striker, currently 35 years old.
Chile will accuse Argentina of missing out due to injury to winger Diego Valdés, who left the match against the Peruvians at halftime due to a muscle injury in his left leg.
