“Now I enjoy each day” - Lionel Messi on his Argentina future ahead of 2024 Copa America final against Colombia
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is not looking too far ahead into his international future ahead of his team's 2024 Copa America final with Colombia in Miami on Sunday (July 14). La Albiceleste are into back-to-back Copa finals.
They did so by beating Canada 2-0 in the semis, where Julian Alvaraz's strike was added to by Messi's first of the tournament. Lionel Scaloni's side are now within a win of a fourth straight title since ending their 28-year title drought at the Copa America in Brazil three years ago.
Ahead of the title clash with Colombia this weekend, the 37-year-old Messi said that he's looking to enjoy each day as it comes (as per DSportsRadio via Albiceleste Talk):
"In these moments, I don't like to think too far ahead... I'm enjoying and taking it day by day. Now I enjoy each day. It will last as long as it has to, until I feel it's not possible anymore."
Messi has scored once in four games and contributed an assist as he looks to win back-to-back Copa titles.
"In the final, I will feel better" - Argentina captain Lionel Messi on his physical condition ahead of 2024 Copa America final with Colombia
Lionel Messi has had an injury-plagued year for club and country. In the ongoing tournament in the United States, the 37-year-old sat out the group-stage win over Peru due to injury concerns.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or returned to action in the quarter-final shootout win over Ecuador - where he missed a penalty. Messi fared better in Argentina's semi-final win over Canada as he updated on his physical condition ahead of the final with Colombia (via Albiceleste Talk):
"With Canada in the first game, I felt very good physically. With Chile, I had the adductor issue and didn't play comfortably anymore. With Ecuador, I just made it in time too. I was fine from the injury, but I had it in my head that something was wrong.
"In the last game, I already lost the fear, and I think in these past days and in the final, I will feel better."
Messi has 14 goals and 18 assists in 38 games in the Copa America since making his competition debut in 2007, where La Albiceleste lost 3-0 to Brazil in the final in Maracaibo, Venezuela.