Argentina superstar Lionel Messi bright start latest quest glory taipei times

Lionel Messi shines as Argentina wins Copa America opener, setting stage for potential last dance and continued international success.

Lionel Messi's pursuit of international success in the latter stages of his career began with a strong start as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Canada in the opening match of the Copa America.

Despite his numerous accomplishments at the club level, Messi had to wait until the age of 34 to achieve triumph with Argentina in major international competitions, winning the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

As fans speculate about whether this could be Messi's final chance to shine on the grand stage, Argentina is considered the favorite to claim back-to-back Copa America titles.

With Messi approaching his 37th birthday, the stage is set for him to lead Argentina to victory. Brazil, their perennial rivals, are struggling, while Argentina boasts a talented squad led by their captain. The Copa final on July 14 will take place in Florida, where Messi is concluding his career with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.

The win over Canada on a subpar temporary grass pitch in Atlanta was not a flawless performance, with Messi missing a few clear opportunities. However, he played a crucial role in both goals.

Messi's precision pass to Alexis Mac Allister set up Julian Alvarez's goal, followed by another well-executed through-ball to assist Lautaro Martinez's goal.

Diego Provenzano of Argentine daily Clarin noted, "When Lionel Messi is in form, everything seems effortless."

While there is speculation about Messi's potential participation in the 2026 World Cup, coach Lionel Scaloni has advised fans to focus on enjoying the present moment rather than looking too far ahead.

Argentina's upcoming matches in Group A of the US-hosted Copa America are against Chile and Peru. Despite some suggesting that the Copa America is inferior to the ongoing Euros, Messi highlighted the tournament's caliber by pointing out the combined 10 World Cups won by Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Messi emphasized, "There are many world champions participating in this tournament, so to say that the Euros are more challenging doesn't hold much weight."