5 records Lionel Messi can achieve/has achieved at Copa America 2021

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Lionel Messi has sizzled at Copa America 2021
Lionel Messi has sizzled at Copa America 2021

#3 Lionel Messi is now Argentina's most capped player in international football

Lionel Messi at Copa America 2021
Lionel Messi at Copa America 2021

By featuring in Argentina's 4-1 win over Bolivia, Lionel Messi surpassed Javier Mascherano to become the most capped player in international football for the Albiceleste.

With two more appearances at the tournament, Messi joined a handful of players to make at least 150 appearances for their country.


#2 Joint-most appearances in Copa America history (not yet achieved)

Lionel Messi exults after Lautaro Martinez scored against Columbia.
Lionel Messi exults after Lautaro Martinez scored against Columbia.

Across six different editions of the Copa America, Lionel Messi has played 33 games. This is just one short of the all-time record for most appearances by any player at the tournament.

Chile's Sergio Livingstone (34) has played the most games by any player in Copa America history. This is a mark Messi is set to emulate by appearing in the Copa America 2021 final against Brazil.


#1 Most goals in Copa America history (not yet achieved)

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi

With 13 career goals in the Copa America, Lionel Messi is only four short of the all-time record for most goals by a player at the tournament.

Brazil's Zizinho and Argentina's Norberto Mendez (both 17) are the two joint all-time goalscorers in Copa America history. This is mark Messi could emulate by scoring four times against Brazil in the Copa America 2021 final.

However, that is unlikely to happen in the Copa America 2021 final. For one, Messi has never scored against Brazil in competitive games. Moreover, the Argentine has also never featured in a competitive win against his team's arch-rivals.

There is another unlikely record in his sights in the final as well. If Messi scores twice against Brazil in the final, he will go past Pele and become the most prolific South American goalscorer in international football.


You may also like: Brazil vs Argentina - 5 interesting facts | Copa America 2021 Final.

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Edited by Anantaajith Raghuraman
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