Argentina opened their bid to defend the Copa America title with a comfortable 2-0 win over Canada in Atlanta after goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. 

Alvarez gave the reigning champions the lead a few moments into the second half, thanks to the work ethic of Alexis Mac Allister and a beautifully weighted ball from none other than Lionel Messi. The Inter Miami star played an inch-perfect pass for the Liverpool midfielder to reach and poke the ball diagonally to Alvarez, who tapped home into the back of an empty net. 

It was the 24-year-old’s first ever-goal in the competition and his first for La Albiceleste since his semifinal brace against Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. 

MLS’ superstar Messi then somehow failed to score himself, much to the disbelief of the 70,564 Atlanta crowd, as Maxime Crepeau made a fine save, before Messi cheekily tried to chip the Canadian goalkeeper. Fortunately for him, his defender Derek Cornelius blocked the effort and held Argentina to just a one-goal lead. 

Messi was then played through on goal once again but uncharacteristically lofted the ball over the keeper wide of the post. After several missed chances, you got the feeling it just wasn’t his night. That was until he delightfully played through Martinez, who slotted through the legs of the Canadian goalkeeper with two minutes left to double their lead and secure victory on the opening night. 

Messi made history by becoming the player with the most appearances in the Copa America — playing his 35th game across seven editions of the tournament, and surpassing the previous record held by Chilean goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone since 1953.

Messi’s journey at this tournament began at the age of 20, and he has since gone on to win the title in 2021, finish a runner-up three times, and secure a third-place finish in 2019.

Argentina next face Chile in a rematch of the 2016 final at MetLife Stadium on June 25