Lionel Messi surpasses Real Madrid legend and Brazil icon as he becomes the player to reach most number of major finals with national team
Argentina star Lionel Messi has surpassed Brazilian icons Cafu and Roberto Carlos for reaching the most number of international finals after guiding his side to the 2024 Copa America final. The Albiceleste beat Canada 2-0 in the last-four clash on Tuesday (July 9), courtesy of goals from Julian Alvarez and Messi, who also bagged his first strike in the ongoing edition of the competition.
On Sunday (July 14), the reigning South American champions will play either Uruguay or Colombia at the Miami Gardens in a bid to retain their crown.
With his 109th goal for the national team, Messi surpassed Iran's Ali Daei to become the second all-time top-scorer, only behind his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo (130).
But more importantly, in the process of guiding Argentina to yet another final, Messi became the player to have reached the most finals with the national team, with his seventh coming up.
He surpassed previous records held by Brazilian duo Cafu and Carlos, who played in six for the Canaries — three in the World Cup (1994, 1998, and 2002), and three in Copa America (1997, 1999, and 2004).
As for Messi, it will be eight if last year's one-off final against Italy in the Finalissima were to be counted too.
His astonishing record includes five Copa America finals, losing four in a row before breaking the jinx in 2021, and two in the World Cups, of which he won the second one in 2022.
The former Barcelona ace will be eyeing a second consecutive title in Copa America and the fourth of his international career with Argentina on Sunday in the final.
Messi will be looking to score in the Copa America 2024 final
Although it's true that Lionel Messi has nothing left to prove, he will be aiming to end a jinx of sorts this Sunday; a drought in the Copa America finals, by scoring in the upcoming one.
In his previous four appearances at that stage of the competition, the forward has inexplicably failed to score even once — four Copa America finals, zero goals.
In fact, in three finals before their triumph in 2021, the Albiceleste as a whole had failed to find the net. They were shut out by Brazil in 2007 before Chile did the same in 2015 and 2016.
Argentina finally ended their long trophy drought by defeating the Canaries in the 2021 final, with Angel Di Maria's goal earning them a 1-0 victory. Messi, however, has yet to find a goal in the Copa America finals. This Sunday could be his last chance to rewrite history.