The last time Argentina participated in a semi final of a Copa America was in the tournament’s last edition which came in 2016 in the United States.

It was Argentina against the host nation and Argentina were on some roll. An appearance in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup was followed by another final appearance, this time the subsequent year at the Copa America. In the 2016, the team had another go at making a third consecutive final.

Lionel MESSI took matters into his own hands or in MESSI’s case, left foot to ensure that his country would qualify for the final of the 2016 Copa America. Against host name United States in the semi finals, despite only scoring one of the four goals, MESSI stole the show with one swift of his magical left foot which resulted in a goal.

It took Argentina less than three minutes to open the scoring. Ever BANEGA passed the ball over to Lionel MESSI who sent a cross in to Ezequiel LAVEZZI who headed it past the goalkeeper to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.

MESSI would go on to score arguably the goal of the tournament and one of the best of his career. Argentina were awarded a free kick and there was only one person who was ever going to take it. MESSI steps it up does only what Lionel MESSI can do. It’s a free kick you must watch to understand as words cannot do it any justice.

At 2-0, Argentina were cruising and in the second half, MESSI passed it out wide to LAVEZZI who crossed the ball into the penalty are to Gonzalo HIGUAIN. The number 9 had his shot initially saved but he would get his own rebound and score to make it 3-0 and put the match out of reach.

Argentina would go on to make it 4-0 after Javier MASCHERANO pressured the United States, the ball fell to MESSI who passed it to HIGUAIN who would go on to score his second of the game.

Argentina captain Lionel MESSI spoke following his team’s 2-0 win against Venezuela in the Copa America.

The veteran of the team, MESSI commented on his personal Copa America, the team, the pitches and more. Here’s what he had to say:

“It’s not my best Copa America, I’m not having the Copa America I was hoping of having. But the important thing is we are winning.

“At the Copa, anyone can defeat anyone, we’ve taken an extra step. There’s a lot of things to highlight. I said from the first day: “There’s a group of very young kids, not just on a football level. On a human level, there’s a friendship between them.””

Regarding the pitches at the Copa America:

“The pitches are very bad, it’s a shame that it’s like that. It doesn’t help us with being able to play the ball quickly and it always takes a bit more time because it bounces badly, you can’t control.

“On every pitch, the ball looks like a rabbit, you see it going everywhere.  It is what it is and we have to adapt.”

In regards to Venezuela:

“We knew that they were going to sit back and try to counter. We managed the game from the beginning, we got the goal and that’s where we messed up, in having the ball.

“In the second half we knew that they were going to come at us and leave space. The team stayed firm, it was a complete game. Defensively, we were very united, we didn’t give up space.”

MESSI also spoke about playing up front with Lautaro MARTINEZ and Sergio AGUERO:

“If we want to play the three of us up front, we have to run.”