WATCH: Argentina players sing Lionel Messi-inspired chant after 2024 Copa America SF win over Canada
Argentina players celebrated their 2-0 2024 Copa America semi-final win over Canada on Tuesday (July 9) at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey by singing a Lionel Messi-inspired chant. Messi was one of the scorers in the win.
Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 21st minute before La Pulga opened his account at the tournament six minutes into the second period to confirm the result. After reaching back-to-back Copa finals, La Albiceleste players celebrated a Messi chant (as translated from Spanish):
"Winning another cup with Leo is what imagine"
Here's the video:
Lionel Scaloni's side are now a win away from becoming the first repeat Copa champions since Chile - who crashed out in the group stage this year - went back-to-back in 2015-16. Incidentally, they beat La Albiceleste in both finals - both in shootouts.
Coming back to the current tournament, Argentina topped their group stage with three straight wins, beating Canada (2-0), Chile (1-0) and Peru (2-0). In the quarter-finals, Scaloni's side needed penalties (4-2) to see off Ecuardor after conceding a late equaliser, which forced a shootout.
How has Argentina captain Lionel Messi fared at 2024 Copa America?
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has a lukewarm 2024 Copa America campaign by his staggering standards. With his goal in the semi-final win over Canada, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has a goal and an assist in four games in the competition.
The lone assist came in the 2-0 group-stage win over Canada in their campaign opener before Messi drew blanks in the wins over Chile and Ecuador - where he missed his spot-kick in the shootout.
The 37-year-old, though, redeemed himself in the semi-final win over Canada as he moves to within one win of a fourth straight senior international title with the Albiceleste.
His three previous titles are the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima and the biggest of them all - the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It's pertinent to note that Messi had won the men's football gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.