In the opening match of the 2024 Copa América, Argentina emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Canada at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This victory marked a strong start for the defending champions as they began their title defense.

First Half: Argentina dominated possession from the outset, pressing high and creating several early chances. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Lionel Messi, orchestrating play from midfield, delivered a precise through ball to Julián Álvarez. Álvarez controlled the pass expertly and slotted the ball past the Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau to give Argentina a 1-0 lead​.

Canada, while organized defensively, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the first half. Their best chance came from Alphonso Davies, whose pace and dribbling caused occasional problems for the Argentine defense, but his efforts did not yield a goal​​.

Second Half: The second half continued in a similar vein, with Argentina controlling the tempo and Canada looking to counter-attack. Canada’s coach made a few tactical changes, introducing fresh legs in an attempt to gain a foothold in the game. However, the Argentine defense, marshaled by Cristian Romero and Emiliano Martínez, remained resolute.

In the 76th minute, Messi once again proved decisive. Picking up the ball just outside the Canadian penalty area, he deftly dribbled past a defender before laying off a pass to Lautaro Martínez, who had come on as a substitute. Lautaro’s clinical finish doubled Argentina’s lead, effectively putting the game beyond Canada’s reach​​.

Key Players:

• Lionel Messi: Messi was instrumental, assisting both goals and orchestrating Argentina’s attacks. His vision and creativity were on full display, earning him the man of the match accolade.
• Julián Álvarez: Scored the opening goal and was a constant threat to the Canadian defense with his movement and finishing.
• Lautaro Martínez: Came off the bench to score the second goal, showcasing Argentina’s depth in attack.

Despite the loss, Canada had some notable performances, particularly from Alphonso Davies, who was their most dangerous player. Stephen Eustáquio also contributed significantly in midfield, trying to disrupt Argentina’s play and initiate counter-attacks​​.

Post-match, both teams criticized the playing surface at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, citing that it impacted the quality of play. This issue might need addressing to ensure better conditions for the remainder of the tournament​​.

Argentina’s 2-0 win sets a positive tone for their Copa América campaign, with Messi and the team looking sharp and cohesive. Canada’s effort, while commendable, highlighted the gap in quality and experience at this level. As the tournament progresses, Argentina will aim to build on this performance, while Canada will look to regroup and improve in their upcoming fixtures.

Argentina star Lionel Messi became the most-capped player in Copa America history on Thursday, making his 35th appearance in the tournament’s opening match against Canada.

The 36-year-old had been tied with Chilean goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone (34 caps) since the 2021 Copa America final in Brazil, where Argentina emerged victorious.

Messi’s appearances span seven editions of the Copa, starting with the 2007 tournament in Venezuela.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner could break more records this year — he needs four goals to match the all-time scoring record of 17 goals, held by compatriot Norberto Mendez and Brazil’s Zizinho.

If Argentina wins the tournament, Messi would also become the first captain to secure back-to-back Copa America titles.