Argentina have always been regarded as one of the best teams in the world. They have been blessed to have the best players in the world over the years, Maradona was an absolute legend for the South American team. Many believed we would never see a player like Maradona…. This was until the little magician Messi arrived and took the breath away of every football fan.
Messi had a tough time in international football as he could never bring the nation a trophy. He retired multiple times due to the heartbreak of not being able to deliver, he did however rejoin the national team and finally got what his heart desired most. In 2021 Messi delivered the Copa America for Argentina and brought joy for the whole nation.
Copa America 2021 win- Tournament Overview
- Host: Brazil
- Dates: June 13 to July 10, 2021
Group Stage
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Group A: Argentina was placed in Group A along with Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile.
- Argentina 1-1 Chile: Lionel Messi scored a stunning free-kick, but Chile equalised through Eduardo Vargas.
- Argentina 1-0 Uruguay: Guido Rodríguez scored the lone goal, securing a vital win.
- Argentina 1-0 Paraguay: Alejandro Gómez's early goal ensured Argentina's second consecutive victory.
- Argentina 4-1 Bolivia: Goals from Papu Gómez, Lautaro Martínez, and a brace from Lionel Messi secured a dominant win.
Knockout Stage
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Quarter-finals: Argentina faced Ecuador.
- Argentina 3-0 Ecuador: Goals from Rodrigo De Paul, Lautaro Martínez, and Lionel Messi secured a comfortable victory.
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Semi-finals: Argentina played against Colombia.
- Argentina 1-1 Colombia (3-2 on penalties): Lautaro Martínez scored early, but Colombia equalised through Luis Díaz. The match went to penalties, where goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez made three crucial saves to help Argentina advance.
Final
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Argentina 1-0 Brazil:
- Date: July 10, 2021
- Location: Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
- Goal: Ángel Di María scored the decisive goal in the 22nd minute, chipping the ball over Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson after a brilliant assist from Rodrigo De Paul.
- Performance: Argentina displayed strong defensive resilience and tactical discipline to hold off Brazil's attacks, securing a historic victory.
Key Players
- Lionel Messi: The captain and standout performer, Messi contributed 4 goals and 5 assists during the tournament, winning the Golden Boot and the Best Player award.
- Emiliano Martínez: The goalkeeper was crucial in the penalty shootout against Colombia and made several key saves throughout the tournament.
- Rodrigo De Paul: Provided stability and creativity in midfield, including a crucial assist in the final.
- Ángel Di María: Scored the winning goal in the final, showcasing his experience and quality.
Significance
- End of Trophy Drought: This victory marked Argentina's first major international title since the 1993 Copa América.
- Lionel Messi: Winning his first major international trophy with Argentina, this victory was a significant milestone in Messi's illustrious career, solidifying his legacy.
- National Pride: The victory brought immense joy to Argentina, celebrated as a unifying moment for the nation.
Argentina's 2021 Copa América triumph is remembered as a testament to the team's determination, skill, and unity, with Lionel Messi's leadership playing a pivotal role in their success.
World Cup 2022 win- Tournament overview
Argentina's triumph in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was a remarkable achievement, marking their third World Cup title. Here is a detailed summary of their journey through the tournament:
Group Stage
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Group C: Argentina was placed in Group C along with Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland.
- Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: In a surprising start, Argentina lost their opening match to Saudi Arabia. Lionel Messi scored a penalty, but Saudi Arabia came back to win.
- Argentina 2-0 Mexico: Goals from Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández secured a vital win, keeping Argentina's hopes alive.
- Argentina 2-0 Poland: Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez ensured Argentina topped the group.
Knockout Stage
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Round of 16: Argentina faced Australia.
- Argentina 2-1 Australia: Goals from Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez helped Argentina advance, despite a late own goal causing some tension.
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Quarter-finals: Argentina played against the Netherlands.
- Argentina 2-2 Netherlands (4-3 on penalties): Nahuel Molina and Lionel Messi scored, but the Netherlands equalised with two late goals. Argentina won in a dramatic penalty shootout.
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Semi-finals: Argentina faced Croatia.
- Argentina 3-0 Croatia: Lionel Messi scored a penalty, and Julián Álvarez added two more goals, securing a place in the final.
Final
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Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 on penalties):
- Goals from Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María gave Argentina a 2-0 lead, but Kylian Mbappé scored twice for France to force extra time.
- Messi scored again in extra time, but Mbappé completed his hat-trick with another penalty, making it 3-3.
- In the penalty shootout, Argentina prevailed 4-2, with successful penalties from Messi, Paulo Dybala, Leandro Paredes, and Gonzalo Montiel.
Key Players
- Lionel Messi: The captain and talisman, Messi was instrumental in Argentina's success, scoring 7 goals and providing crucial assists.
- Emiliano Martínez: The goalkeeper made several crucial saves, including key performances in the penalty shootouts against the Netherlands and France.
- Julián Álvarez: Emerging as a key forward, Álvarez scored important goals throughout the tournament.
- Enzo Fernández: A standout young player, Fernández provided energy and creativity in midfield, scoring a crucial goal against Mexico.
Legacy
- Lionel Messi: Cemented his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time, winning the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player.
- Team Cohesion: Under coach Lionel Scaloni, the team showcased a blend of experienced stars and young talent, playing with unity and resilience.
- National Pride: The victory brought immense joy and pride to Argentina, ending a 36-year wait for their third World Cup title.
Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory is celebrated as a historic and emotional achievement, highlighting the brilliance of Lionel Messi and the collective strength of the team.
Can Argentina do it again?
Argentina struggled for over 20 years to achieve anything of note when it came to international tournaments. Since 2021 they have won the Copa America and the World Cup, this shows a period of domination. Argentina are clear favourites for the Copa America as Brazil have key injuries that will affect them. This will most probably be Messi’s last tournament and there will be no better time to retire from international football than winning the Copa America.
Argentina have had a very good start beating Chile 1-0 and Canada 2-0. There are undoubtedly harder games to come however, Argentina will be the side that everybody will want to avoid. They have a very strong team and a manager who knows how to get the best out of the squad. If Argentina win the Copa America they will go down as one of the greatest teams in international history. This will give Lionel Messi the legacy he deserves.
