da bet esporte： The legendary attacker is nearing the end – could this be Lionel Messi's final major tournament?
da imperador bet： Time waits for no man, not even Argentinian GOATS. Lionel Messi's Last Dance is coming, and it's coming sooner than many realize. It's hard to grasp, but the world has spent the last two decades watching the boy from Rosario become a global icon. In sports, dominance can only go on for so long.
Now 20 years removed from his famous Barcelona debut, Messi's reign is coming to an end. Not today, not tomorrow, but soon. That's what makes this Copa America run so vital for the 36-year-old icon: it very well could be his last.
For years, this tournament tormented him. It famously led to a short-lived international retirement eight years ago. That summer was, coincidentally, the last time the Copa was held in the United States. Much has changed since then.
Now heading into his seventh Copa, Messi enters it for the first time as the reigning champion. He led Argentina to glory in 2021 before guiding his country to a World Cup one year later. Confidence has never been as high as it is now for Messi and the Albiceleste.
They enter this summer as favorites. The pressure will be on Argentina this time around, albeit a different kind of pressure. For years, there were questions about Messi's ability to win a title on the international stage. Those questions have been answered.
There's a new question that will define Argentina's run. Messi has finally gotten his hands on some major international trophies; before his career comes to an end, can he now get his hands on one more?
Messi's Copa America setbacks
It didn't take long for the news to start moving through MetLife stadium. Reporters, janitors, elevator operators – everyone was discussing it.
After falling to Chile, missing a crucial penalty along the way, Messi had announced his international retirement.
That retirement was short-lived, but it does offer insight into the mid of the man himself. On that night in 2016, Messi was in pain. He was unable to cope with it any longer. After facing setback after setback, Messi wanted out.
That retirement came on the heels of a heartbreaking loss in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 Copa America final. It was followed by another World Cup heartbreak in 2018. At that point, everyone was considering the same thing: was Messi simply cursed?
That all changed in 2021, when Messi finally tasted glory in that blue and white shirt.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWinning the big one… and then a bigger one
It's hard to imagine the relief that Messi must have felt that night in Brazil. Not happiness, not joy, not elation — perhaps the best word is relief. After years of criticism, he finally had his answer.
With a 1-0 win over hosts Brazil in the final, Messi had finally won an international trophy as he lifted the Copa America. He was the tournament's leading scorer with four goals, and he shared the Best Player award with his longtime friend and teammate Neymar.
The world knows what happened next. Messi and Argentina marched into Qatar and left with a World Cup in hand. Messi, of course, was the star of the show, scoring seven goals to earn the tournament's Golden Ball.
And with it, the haters were silenced. The comparisons to the legendary Diego Maradona were finally fair. Even Messi's biggest doubters had to admit that he'd accomplished all he could. It would have been easy for Messi to ride off into the sunset with the title of GOAT.
He hasn't, though. He's back for more.
Getty ImagesRemaining the ring-leader
In the year and a half since Argentina lifted the World Cup, the Albiceleste have played 14 games. They've won 13 of them. Aside from a singular loss to Uruguay, no team has been able to stop Messi and Co., and plenty have tried.
Messi himself hasn't slowed down, either. Since the World Cup, Messi's international goal total has ballooned from 98 to 108, making him the third player to hit the century mark. He's one away from passing Iran's Ali Daei, although Messi's eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has a commanding lead at the top with 130 and counting.
Despite the fact that he'll turn 37 this week, Messi is still running laps around the competition. He isn't the same player he once was in his Barcelona heyday, but he's still as dominant as can be, particularly in that Argentina shirt. This Argentina team is still very much built around him and his magic and, until that magic slows down, Argentina will have a chance in every competition.
That includes this Copa America, where they are massive favorites in their title defense.
GettyArgentina's path
It's not even just that Argentina are supremely talented; it's also the fact that the bracket broke heavily in their favor.
Grouped with Peru, Chile and Canada, Argentina will certainly be tested in the group stage but, make no mistake, they'll be favorites each time. Chile, in particular, will be a personal one for Messi, who will face the 2016 Copa America winners in the same stadium they won in, MetLife Stadium. It's a chance for Argentina to bury some demons on the way to the knockouts.
Once there, Argentina will know that Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and the U.S. men's national team are all on the other side. That's correct: Argentina won't face the second, third, fourth or fifth-best team in this tournament until a potential finale.
Their path will go through Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela or Jamaica ahead of the semifinals. The tournament is there for the taking, which is massive for Messi – who will be eager to seize it.