If you didn’t follow Lionel Messi’s Argentina career closely, you may not realise that the Barcelona forward has failed to lead the Sky Blues to a major international trophy.
Most fans will remember the team’s failure at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when Germany claimed the trophy. But what they may not remember were the two consecutive Copa America final defeats to Chile in 2015 and 2016.
Leo Messi: “My biggest dream is to win a title with this shirt. I was very close several times. It didn't happen, but I will keep trying. I’ll always fight for that dream.” pic.twitter.com/4omC3VpNbj— Leo Messi 🔟 (@WeAreMessi) June 14, 2021
Leo Messi: “My biggest dream is to win a title with this shirt. I was very close several times. It didn't happen, but I will keep trying. I’ll always fight for that dream.” pic.twitter.com/4omC3VpNbj
Argentina go into the 2021 edition of the competition with another strong squad. Manager Lionel Scaloni has called in the attacking talents of Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, and Lautaro Martinez to play with Messi.
CONMEBOL World Cup qualification has gone well for Scaloni’s team. They are unbeaten in six matches thus far with three wins and three draws. Sitting second in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, Argentina have drawn their last two qualifiers versus Chile and Colombia.
Messi has scored just two goals in qualifying with both coming from the penalty spot. Now, with Messi running out of time to win the Copa America, can he lead Argentina to the trophy?
The simple answer is yes. Yet, looking deeper at the 2021 Copa America and the path Argentina must take to win the trophy, it seems unlikely.
Argentina play in Group A, a far more difficult set of teams than the squads Brazil will face. Scaloni’s team will play Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay. A top-four finish will send the team through to the knockout phase.
Finishing outside of the top two places in Group A would likely mean Argentina play Brazil in the quarterfinals or semifinals (if they get there). The tournament is set up for an Argentina versus Brazil final, but the Sky Blues may be knocked out before getting there.
Messi is now 33, he will turn 34 at the end of June. Fans witnessed Barcelona’s failings outside of the Copa del Rey last season in Spain with the team heavily dependent on the ageing superstar.
Argentina have often mirrored Barcelona with Messi in the team. Everything has been built around the player and when others have been needed in big games, no one has been able to step up.
Scaloni’s three most famous players are all 33: Aguero, Messi, and Di Maria. After a long season in which players throughout the squad played a lot of football in a short period, Argentina are likely to come up short once more in their quest for a Copa America trophy.
As always, the team’s progression and hopes of winning silverware hinge on Messi. His illustrious career could finish without ever winning a major international trophy.