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Copa America 2024 is just on the horizon and Lionel Messi's Argentina are ready to defend the title and win their third consecutive international trophy. La Albiceleste will start their Copa America campaign against Alphonso Daives' Canadian side on June 21.
Brazil and Luis Suarez's Uruguay will also be looking to make up for the underwhelming performances in the last few international tournaments and win big in the upcoming tournament. However, Copa America 2024 features several dark horses, and teams like Mexico, USMNT, and Colombia will want to cause a major upset.
Lionel Messi's Argentina boasts one of the most balanced sides in the tournament with depth in all three departments. While they have one of the most consistent performers in Emiliano Martinez between the sticks, the Argentine defensive line is no slouch either with players like Cuti Romero and Lisandro Martinez providing both solidity and pace.
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The Argentine midfield reeks of creativity with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo de Paul, and even Messi dropping deep at times to make the play. Coming to the frontmen, La Albiceleste possess some of the most lethal men up front who can kill any opposition on a given day, Lionel Messi, Angel di Maria, and Lautaro Martinez with the likes of Julian Alvarez and Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench to rake havoc. Sounds pretty potent, right?
Five records Lionel Messi can break in Copa America 2024
Despite all the depth, the main man will, of course, be none other than Lionel Messi. In fact, he is on the verge of breaking several records in the upcoming tournament. Here are the top five among them.
5. Player with the most goals in a single edition of the Copa America
Messi can become the player with the most goals in a single edition of Copa America if he scores more than nine goals in the upcoming tournament. The record is currently held by fellow Argentine Humberto Maschio, Uruguay's Javier Ambrois, and Brazil's Jair, who have each scored nine goals in a single tournament edition.
The Argentine has been in scintillating form with Inter Miami and will want to continue this form in Copa America 2024. In 17 games, La Pulga has 16 goals for club and country in all competitions. Moreover, Copa America 2024 will have 16 teams instead of the usual 10 and will give Messi more games to equal the goalscoring record.
4. Player with the most appearances in Copa America history
Lionel Messi is currently tied with Chilean goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone for the most games played in Copa America history with 34. The Ballon d'Or winner needs to step onto the field just once more time to beat the longstanding record and become the outright highest appearance-maker in Copa America's history.
Copa America 2024 will also be the seventh Copa America that he'll take part in.
3. Most international goal contributions by a player in history
Lionel Messi has a chance to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's record of the most international goal contributions in international football. As of this writing, they are just three goal contributions apart and Lionel Messi can bridge the gap and even surpass it over the next month.
Lionel Messi stands at 162 goal contributions (108 goals and 54 assists) in 182 games whereas Cristiano Ronaldo has 165 goal contributions (130 goals and 35 assists) in 208 appearances for Portugal.
2. Only player to defend the Copa America Player of the Tournament title
Messi conquered Copa America 2021 with his exceptional all-round performance. In addition to winning the tournament, Leo was also the highest scorer, highest assist provider and topped most other playmaking and goalscoring statistic. Naturally, he was the only worthy player to be named the Player of the Tournament.
La Pulga hasn't lost his Midas touch even three years down the line. He is currently in red-hot form for Inter Miami and is expected to repeat the heroics of the previous iteration of the tournament. He will be the only player to ever defend the Player of the Tournament title in Copa America if he pulls it off.
1. Most goals scored in Copa America history
Lionel Messi is just five goals shy of becoming the player with the most goals scored in Copa America history. The record is currently owned by Brazil's Zizinho and Argentina's Norberto Mendez who both have scored 17 goals in the tournament.
Lionel Messi currently stands at 13 goals and will get at least three more opportunities (assuming the unlikeliest scenario that they don't qualify for the playoffs) to break the record set by his predecessors.
