The impossible happens from Leo Messi in the first goal in Copa America 2024.
Messi received the ball outside the penalty area and suddenly, without any warning, decided to send a legendary imaginary pass that struck the entire Canadian defense and announced a goal in a sacrificial way from the Argentine players and at the feet of Julian Alvarez.
Watch Argentina’s first goal in the Copa America Championship and the wonder that Messi did in this goal, as if he was playing football with his hands.
Alvarez gave the reigning champions the lead a few moments into the second half, thanks to the work ethic of Alexis Mac Allister and a beautifully weighted ball from none other than Lionel Messi. The Inter Miami star played an inch-perfect pass for the Liverpool midfielder to reach and poke the ball diagonally to Alvarez, who tapped home into the back of an empty net. It was the 24-year-old’s first ever-goal in the competition and his first for La Albiceleste since his semifinal brace against Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
MLS’ superstar Messi then somehow failed to score himself, much to the disbelief of the 70,564 Atlanta crowd, as Maxime Crepeau made a fine save, before Messi cheekily tried to chip the Canadian goalkeeper. Fortunately for him, his defender Derek Cornelius blocked the effort and held Argentina to just a one-goal lead.
