EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Argentina triumphed 1-0 over Chile at MetLife Stadium within the Copa América on Tuesday, with Lautaro MartÃnez’s lone purpose within the 88th minute sending spectators right into a frenzy and serving to the Albiceleste to banish the ghosts of the 2015 and 2016 finals.
Argentina followers exploded into deafening screams, some leaping in unison with these in neighboring seats and others taking off jerseys to wave them within the air, whereas the gamers embraced each other on the pitch as Lionel Scaloni’s aspect lastly overcame the rivals who had handed them two bitter Copa América losses. Sure it was solely within the group stage this time, however it mattered.
Argentina out-shot Chile 22-3, mimicking the statistics of the 2016 ultimate when recording an 18-4 ratio earlier than struggling defeat on penalties. This extremely charged and bodily match noticed rigidity rise at every finish, creating shut requires penalties and crimson playing cards. However ultimately, one strike made all of the distinction.
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Eight years in the past, nevertheless, MetLife Stadium noticed a special story play out. And it practically price Argentina the expertise of Lionel Messi.
On June 26, 2016, Argentina lined as much as face Chile within the Copa América Centenario ultimate with the burden of the nation’s hopes on their shoulders. However none extra so than Messi. Tens of millions of followers had been demanding that he avenge the results of the 2015 ultimate, the place Chile triumphed on penalties, and finish Argentina’s 22-year look forward to silverware.
However there have been issues over his skill to steer the aspect as captain. Argentina followers continuously doubted his management expertise, questioned the emotional connection to the nation after shifting to Spain as a toddler, and criticized his character with labels like “pecho frio” — one which performs with a “chilly chest” and with out ardour.
Although Messi was typically the staff’s finest participant on the pitch and their main purpose scorer, he had but to solidify these efforts with a serious trophy. He propelled the Albiceleste to new heights, however some followers continued to consider him as a failure with the nationwide staff for shedding the 2014 World Cup ultimate to Germany and the 2015 Copa América ultimate to Chile.
The development to match Messi with Diego Maradona fueled the nation’s disapproval — noting that El Pibe de Oro (“The Golden Boy”) solely lived as much as expectations after successful the 1986 World Cup and the Golden Ball because the event’s finest participant.
However in reaching the 2016 ultimate, Argentina hoped that Messi would lastly finish the nation’s lengthy wait. Some 82,026 spectators within the MetLife Stadium, the biggest viewers within the historical past of New Jersey, watched on and a hotly contested match noticed a crimson card to each groups within the first half, with Chile’s Marcelo Diaz exiting the pitch within the twenty eighth minute and Argentina’s Marcos Rojo departing moments later.
Finally, high quality defensive efforts from each side noticed the sport finish in a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes to pressure penalties for a second-consecutive 12 months between the 2 groups. Messi stepped as much as take the primary penalty for Argentina, however despatched the ball into the stands as a collective gasp was heard world wide. Although his teammate Lucas Biglia additionally did not convert his penalty, handing Chile a 4-2 shootout triumph, blame lashed down upon Messi within the aftermath.
The digital camera panned to speechless Argentina followers across the stadium earlier than displaying a distraught Messi on the pitch. Moments after the sport, within the midst of a downward spiral, an emotional Messi as soon as once more shocked the world with an unprecedented announcement: “I’m carried out enjoying with the nationwide staff.”
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One of many world’s best gamers, who boasted a number of Ballon d’Or, Champions League and LaLiga titles, retired from Argentina with no main trophy. “I attempted my hardest,” Messi added. “I attempted all the things doable. It hurts me greater than anybody, however it’s evident that this isn’t for me. I would like greater than anybody to win a title with the nationwide staff, however sadly, it didn’t occur.”
Fortunately for Argentina and soccer followers world wide, that call solely lasted till mid-August. And, after that, Messi led his nationwide staff to the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2022 Finalissima.
Now, some 2,919 days after his “retirement” on the pitch, Messi returned to MetLife Stadium as captain, only a day after celebrating his thirty seventh birthday. Eight years on, he as soon as once more led Argentina, with the captain’s armband on that well-known left arm, however supporters are now not questioning his skill to steer, his devotion, or character inside this triumphant staff.
As a substitute, followers expressed gratitude for the moments of immense pleasure he has given them by way of flags, banners and photographs of the World Cup. The criticism and issues from 2016 was cheers and chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!” in 2024.
Messi’s identify garnered the loudest cheers when the lineup echoed all through MetLife, whereas the No. 10 jerseys overwhelmed the stands. When he tried a shot on purpose or initiated the construct up of a goal-scoring alternative, followers instantly made the “bowing down” hand gesture whereas singing his identify.
The 37-year-old went near scoring 3 times, hitting the publish as soon as, and wanted remedy on a thigh concern within the first half. However as his late nook brought on havoc, MartÃnez turned within the winner to propel Argentina to a second Copa América 2024 group stage win, which ensured a spot within the knockout rounds. (The Albiceleste lead Group A, three factors away from second-placed Canada with a ultimate group stage recreation nonetheless to play.)
“The one factor left after eight years is the stadium,” Scaloni declared afterwards.
Certainly, the tears, disappointment and darkish declarations of 2016 now really feel like a distant reminiscence that Messi can go away prior to now.
