"Going to be a very exciting and evenly matched tournament" - Lionel Messi names strongest teams at Copa America 2024
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi revealed who he believes are the strongest teams at the 2024 Copa America in an exclusive interview with Infobae. The footballing extravaganza is set to kick off on June 20 with a game between Argentina and Canada at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
La Albiceleste enter the tournament as the defending champions and the World Cup champions. However, Messi claimed that the 2024 edition would be one of the most evenly matched, with many teams in hot form. He said:
"When any tournament starts, Argentina is a contender to win it just like Brazil. I think that, at this point in time, the South American teams are really strong. Uruguay is playing well, Colombia, Ecuador... I think it's going to be a very exciting and an evenly matched tournament."
In the final of the 2021 edition, Angel di Maria scored in the 22nd minute and the Argentine defense held on to secure a 1-0 win against Brazil. Messi lifted his first Copa America title in six attempts, having been second best on three previous occasions - against Brazil in 2007 and against Chile in 2015 and 2016.
However, Argentina's path to defending their title will not be a straightforward one. Colombia currently boast of a 21-game unbeaten run (16 wins, five draws) with their last defeat being against Argentina themselves in February 2022. In that period, they have been victorious over top teams like Germany, Spain and Brazil.
Brazil have always been a powerhouse in South American football and have one of the strongest squads in the 2024 edition of the tournament as well. Since their group stage elimination in the 2022 World Cup, Ecuador has also been on the rise, having lost just three out of 12 games since.
"It was spectacular" - Lionel Messi recalls previous Copa America held in the United States in 2016
With the United States of America set to host the 2024 Copa America, Argentine maestro Lionel Messi reminisced about the previous edition of the tournament held in the USA in 2016.
The Copa America Centenario, the 100-year anniversary of the tournament, marked the first time it was held outside of South America. Argentina made the final but lost to Chile on penalties in heart-breaking fashion, with Messi missing the opening penalty (0-0, 4-2 on penalties).
Recalling the grandeur of the 2016 edition, the 36-year-old said (via Infobae):
"We played Copa América in 2016 here in the United States and honestly it was spectacular. We had a good time and we had a great tournament despite losing the final."
The Inter Miami superstar also added that he had recovered from the highs of the World Cup and was fully motivated to win the tournament again and said:
"I feel relieved to be a World Champion because the debt I owed to my family, my country and all the fans has now been paid. But life goes on, I want to try and win the Copa América again."