Alejandro Garnacho sends message to ‘captain’ Lionel Messi after Argentina win 2024 Copa America
Argentina striker Alejandro Garnacho has thanked his captain Lionel Messi for the team's 2024 Copa America triumph. La Albiceleste defended their title by beating Colombia 1-0 in extra time in the final in Miami on Sunday (July 14).
The game saw Messi coming off shortly after the hour mark due to a swollen ankle as extra time ensued. However, Inter Milan hitman Lautaro Martinez latched on to a Giovani Lo Celso through-ball to score the game's only goal in the 112nd minute to spark wild celebrations in La Albiceleste's camp.
Garnacho - who played only 66 minutes in the 2-0 group-stage win over Peru - said about Messi (as per Albiceleste Talk):
"Thank you for everything, captain."
The win marked Lionel Scaloni's side's record 16th Copa title, breaking a tie with Uruguay. It also made them the first back-to-back Copa champions since Chile in 2015 and 2016, with La Albiceleste finishing on the losing end of both shootouts in the final.
Playing his seventh continental campaign, Messi reached his fifth final, emerging victorious twice (on the trot), following previous heartbreaks in 2007, 2015 and 2016.
"Thanks to everyone who was supporting us" - Argentina captain Lionel Messi after winning 2024 Copa America
Argentina talisman Lionel Messi didn't have the 2024 Copa America campaign he would have hoped for. The 37-year-old scored and assisted only once each in five games, both against Canada (one in the group stage and the other in the semi-final).
Despite his limited involvement in the final win over Colombia, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner expressed gratitude for all the support the team received, posting on Instagram (as translated from Spanish):
"Copa America is over, and the first thing I want to thank everyone for the messages and greetings. I'm doing well, thank God, and, hopefully, soon I can be on the field again enjoying what I love doing most. I'm happy, a lot, especially because we achieved the goal we had, and Fide leaves us but with another Cup.
He continued:
"The biggest ones, like him, Ota or me, we live it with special excitement, with other teammates who already have several tournaments and add their experience as well, and with a litter of young people who give their all in every ball. We are a team and also a family, a spectacular group.
"Thanks to everyone who was supporting us. This national team has a lot of present and a lot of future too. Let's go Argentina!"
The Copa America triumph was Lionel Messi's fourth straight title with Argentina and a record-extending 45th with club and country as he returns to club football with MLS side Inter Miami.