Despite being crucial for Argentina during the Copa America, Lionel Messi‘s goal tally was not his best, a surprise given the expectation for him to consistently top the scoring charts in any tournament he plays. This contrasts sharply with his performance in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he netted seven goals and narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot, finishing just one goal behind Kylian Mbappe.
Lionel Messi‘s relative quiet in front of goal, however, did not hinder Argentina’s overall performance. His teammates stepped up, with forwards Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez delivering key goals to fill the void. Their contributions ensured that the team remained competitive and highlighted the depth of talent in the Argentine squad.
The only goal scored by the Argentine star came during the semifinal match against Canada . In that game, Lionel Messi unintentionally deflected a shot from Enzo Fernandez that was heading straight for the net, and sealing the 2-0 victory for Argentina .
Here’s a look at the top five goal scorers in the Copa America 2024:
- Lautaro Martinez – Argentina (5 goals)
- Salomon Rondon – Venezuela (3 goals)
- Julian Alvarez – Argentina (2 goals)
- Jhon Cordoba – Colombia (2 goals)
- Jefferson Lerma – Colombia (2 goals)
Lionel Messi of Argentina gestures during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 match between Chile and Argentina at MetLife Stadium on June 25, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
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Video: Messi bursts into tears, asks to be subbed off in Copa America 2024 final due to injury
