After nearly 90 minutes of complete domination, Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2024 Copa America. Striker Lautaro Martinez scored in the 88th minute, helping Albiceleste beat Chile 1-0 and thereby completing the first goal before the final round of the group stage.
Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Chile.
Martinez, who came on in the 73rd minute, calmly slotted home Argentina’s 21st shot to date. But the players had to wait for three minutes before Martinez’s 26th international goal was confirmed by VAR. “The ball came right to me and I was able to convert it,” said Martinez, who had scored the second in the 2-0 opening win over Canada.
The two teams returned to the stadium where Chile beat Argentina on penalties in the 2016 Copa America final. That defeat led to Messi announcing his retirement from international football, before reversing his decision seven weeks later… And on Tuesday, a day after his 37th birthday, Messi took to the pitch with Argentina as the reigning South American and World champions. At least 90% of the 81,106 fans at MetLife Stadium wore Argentina jerseys, most of which featured Messi’s name and the number 10.
Messi regularly showed off his talent for turning and dribbling past defenders. Argentina dominated the game, with 22 shots to Chile’s three, while winning 11 corners to their opponents’ zero. Chile did not manage a shot until the 72nd minute… Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo – at 41, the oldest player in Copa America history – made eight saves in his 150th international appearance. “It’s a bitter taste to lose like this,” Bravo admitted. “We played against a very strong opponent.”
Messi reassured about the pain in his thigh after being kicked by Gabriel Suazo in the 24th minute.
There were still concerns for Argentina fans when Messi had to receive treatment on his right thigh for nearly two minutes after being kicked by Gabriel Suazo in the 24th minute. However, the superstar later reassured: “It bothered me a little, but I was able to finish the game. It was difficult for me to move freely. I hope it’s nothing serious. Tomorrow we will see how I feel.”
Messi has yet to score in two games, with his biggest chance hitting the post in the first half. He added: “We knew it would be physically taxing. All games against Chile are physically demanding, they are always very difficult opponents. But we achieved our goal, won and reached the quarter-finals.”
Argentina were the first team to qualify from the group stage, with a game to spare, and will face Peru in Miami on Saturday. “We deserved to win,” coach Lionel Scaloni said. “The game was not easy. We won when you least expected it. The team kept believing and attacking. It was a deserved victory because Argentina tried their best, but it was very difficult.”
Meanwhile, Chile will now need to beat Canada – who finished second in the group after a 1-0 win over Peru – in their final group game to qualify for the next round.