Lionel Messi says he is enjoying his ‘last battles’ as Argentina reach Copa America final

NEW YORK – Lionel Messi said he was enjoying his “last battles” with Argentina after the 37-year-old found the net in a 2-0 win over Canada in New Jersey on July 9 to book a place in the Copa America final.

After a lacklustre display against Ecuador in the quarter-finals, Messi looked back to himself again, connecting with Angel di Maria and strike partner Julian Alvarez, who also scored.

“I’m living it like I lived it in the last Copa America, in the last World Cup... these are the last battles and I’m enjoying them to the maximum,” he told TyC Sports after the win set up a meeting with Uruguay or Colombia in the final.

Messi, now playing with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, has yet to indicate whether he will continue to play with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, where the final will take place at the same MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

When asked about Messi’s “last battles” comment, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni asked for calm, saying: “We have to leave him alone. He knows that we will not be the ones to close the door on him. He can stay with us as long as he wants, even when he retires... Let him decide what he wants.”

Messi has the chance to win a third straight major title with his national side following their 2022 World Cup triumph and their 2021 Copa win.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner referenced veteran teammates di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi and said that the success was validation for the difficult years the team had suffered.

“The truth is that it’s crazy what this group have done, what the Argentina national team have been doing. Because after all this it gives value to all (the tournaments) I and the old generation have played in,” Messi said on TyC Sports.

“It’s not easy for us to be in a final again, for us to compete again to be champions,” he added.

Despite Argentina reaching the final with some comfort against Canada, the former Barcelona forward said it had been a tough test.

“It’s a difficult Copa, evenly matched, with very bad pitches, with high temperatures, very tough teams. And for us to be in a final again is something to enjoy,” he said.

Scaloni agreed: “The bar has been set very high. Everyone thought it was going to be a bed of roses and it wasn’t like that at all. Canada proved it today by being very difficult opponents.”

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said that despite being world champions, the joy of reaching a Copa final was just as intense as ever.

“It’s a source of pride as an Argentinian, as a representative of this national team, to be able to play in another final. It feels as if it was the first time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Canada coach Jesse Marsch, who took over only in May, said that the unexpected run to the last four had taken a toll on his side.

The American former RB Leipzig and Leeds United manager has quickly installed his high-energy, hard-pressing style since taking charge.

But he conceded that he could see his players were struggling to bring that approach in the New Jersey heat after a run of five games in the competition and accepted he needed a broader selection of players to call on.

“I think that the tournament caught up with us a little bit. Argentina rotated a lot of players throughout the tournament so... they weren’t calling on the same players every match,” he said.

“There’s been heat, there’s been travel, there’s been a lot of challenges. In the end, we’re still in the beginning of our process. Argentina have maybe had eight years together with this team.

“So we need to develop more players who can contribute, so that we can also rotate in tournament play because eventually the physicality and the fatigue can catch up with you. And that was a big part of what happened with us tonight.” AFP, REUTERS