Lionel Messi on Preliminary List for Argentina’s Copa America 2024 Squad

Lionel Messi is on the preliminary list of 29 Argentine players preparing to defend their title at Copa America 2024. This marks yet another chapter in Messi’s storied career with the national team.

Messi’s Copa America Journey

Messi first played in the Copa America in 2007 in Venezuela, where he scored two goals in six matches. Argentina, however, lost 0-3 to Brazil in the final. He also faced heartbreak in the 2015 and 2016 finals, losing to Chile on penalties. In 2011, Argentina was defeated by Uruguay in the quarterfinals, and in 2019, Brazil eliminated them in the semifinals.

Historic Victory in 2021

It wasn’t until 2021 that Messi and Argentina clinched the Copa America title, their first team-level title in years. They defeated host Brazil 1-0 in the final. Messi’s performance was stellar, earning him three individual awards: Best Player, Top Scorer, and Most Assisted Player.

Record and Milestones

In total, Messi has appeared 34 times in the Copa America, tying Chile’s late goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone for the most appearances. If Messi plays in the 2024 tournament, he will break this record. With 13 goals in the Copa America, Messi is tied with notable players like Brazil’s Jair and Ademir, and Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta, José Manuel Moreno, and Héctor Scarone. He is just behind six players, including Eduardo Vargas and Paolo Guerrero, who have 14 goals, and Lolo Fernández and Severino Varela with 15. The all-time record is 17 goals, held by Norberto Méndez and Zizinho. Messi will set a new milestone if he scores at least five goals in the 2024 tournament.

Current Form

Messi has been in remarkable form for Inter Miami in the MLS this season, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in ten matches. He has also scored two goals and made two assists in three appearances in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The 36-year-old striker holds the record for scoring 106 goals in 180 matches for Argentina.

Preliminary Squad for Copa America 2024

The preliminary list announced by coach Lionel Scaloni includes many stars from the Premier League, such as Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Cristian Romero, and Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Alejandro Garnacho and Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), and Julian Alvarez (Manchester City). The only domestic player is Franco Armani, the 37-year-old goalkeeper from River Plate.

Notable Absences

The list is missing four members who won the 2022 World Cup: Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), and Alejandro Gomez, who is banned for two years for testing positive for doping. Dybala’s absence is surprising, considering the Roma striker scored 16 goals in all competitions this season and won the Serie A Player of the Month award three times.

Argentina’s Path Ahead

Argentina will play friendly matches against Ecuador on June 10 and Guatemala on June 14 before starting their journey to defend their title at Copa America 2024. They are in the same group as Peru, Chile, and Canada. Scaloni will eliminate three names before announcing the official list of 26 players.

Preliminary List of Argentina Squad for Copa America 2024

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Geronimo Rulli (Ajax), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa).

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Marcos Acuña (Sevilla), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Valentin Barco (Brighton).

Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham).

Forwards: Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Valentin Carboni (Monza), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City).