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Lionel Messi and Argentina will look to win their third straight major tournament at the upcoming Copa America in the USA. La Albiceleste are heavy favorites to defend their crown and will kick off their campaign against Canada at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 20.
In the 2021 edition, Messi won his maiden international trophy as Argentina beat hosts Brazil 1-0 at the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The former Barcelona ace topped the charts for goals and assists, with four and five respectively, directly contributing to nine of his side’s 12 goals in the tournament.
With this likely to be his last Copa America, Messi will look to make his mark once again and lift the trophy on July 15. On that note, let’s take a look at five reasons why Argentina are the favorites to win Copa America 2024.
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Five reasons why Lionel Messi-led Argentina are favorites to win Copa America 2024
#5 Lionel Scaloni’s tactical acumen
Lionel Scaloni has already forged his legacy as one of Argentina’s greatest-ever managers.
With a Copa America and a World Cup title already, Scaloni has transformed La Albiceleste from perennial underachievers to ruthless serial-winners. However, what sometimes goes unnoticed is that under his calm demeanor is an excellent tactician with the ability to adapt to different opponents and situations.
At both their previous tournament wins, Argentina underwent radical changes to their setups. Scaloni deployed numerous different formations and changed personnel, with the primary objective being to bring the best of Messi while maintaining their rigidity to nullify opponents’ threat.
The system has been refined over the years, and Argentina seem prepared to be able to deal with anything their opponents can throw at them.
#4 In-form players
Argentina also have many players in a purple patch. Messi has been tearing up the MLS this year, registering 25 goal contributions in 14 games across competitions.
Although the level of football in the USA is a notch or two below that of Copa America, Messi is still an elite dribbler and playmaker and will likely be among the most productive players.
Angel Di Maria has scored or assisted in his last three appearances for the national team. Alexis Mac Allister was one of Liverpool’s best players last season, while Alejandro Garnacho is among the favorites for the Golden Boy award following a breakthrough campaign with Manchester United.
#3 Difficult to beat
Argentina have been in domineering form ever since Lionel Scaloni was appointed head coach in 2019. Since their defeat to Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semifinal, La Albiceleste went on a 36-game unbeaten run, which ended in their 2022 World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia.
Since their World Cup triumph in Qatar, Scaloni’s men have lost just one game in 18. That sole defeat came against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier in November. They have won all four of their games since then, including an away qualifier against Brazil.
Two defeats in nearly five years is a record that speaks for itself. Scaloni has instilled a rigidity and dogged determination in his side that makes them incredibly hard to break down.
Combine that with some of the best players in the game in every department, which makes beating Argentina one of the toughest jobs in world football.
#2 Brazil’s poor form
Brazil were the last team to beat Argentina in the Copa America - a 2-0 win in the 2019 semifinal in Belo Horizonte.
However, much of that side is not in the squad for this year’s edition. Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino, the two goalscorers in that game, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho and Thiago Silva made up the core of that side but have been left out of the squad this year.
The Selecao have also been in in dismal form in 2023, going winless in four World Cup qualifiers in October and November. As a result, the side are sixth in the table, the last automatic qualification spot.
Brazil have been somewhat stabilized since the appointment of Dorival Junior in January, beating England and Mexico and drawing against Spain. However, overcoming the likes of Argentina and Uruguay in the Copa America might prove to be too big a challenge for them at the moment.
#1 The Lionel Messi factor
Even at the age of 36, Lionel Messi is one of Argentina’s biggest assets and will be pivotal to their chances of success at the Copa America. As mentioned earlier, Messi was the standout player at the previous edition of the tournament with most goals, assists and dribbles and was adjudged the best player.
He had a stellar World Cup campaign as well, finishing one behind Kylian Mbappe (8) in the goalscoring charts and contributing the most assists (3). He's the only player to win two World Cup Golden Ball awards.
Messi is just four goals behind Brazilian legend Zizinho and Argentine great Norberto Mendez (both 17) in the list of all-time top scorers in the Copa America. That's another record the Inter Miami forward might own, along with another Copa America winner’s medal, come July.
