Messi or no Messi, Argentina has grow to be the staff to beat in world soccer

What does life appear like for Argentina within the post-Lionel Messi period — each time that lastly occurs?

Nicely, judging by their present run of type issues look fairly good for the Albiceleste ought to the world’s best participant determine to step down from worldwide competitors following Sunday’s Copa America ultimate (8 p.m., Fox, Univision, TUDN) — win or lose.

Extremely unlikely, nevertheless stranger issues have occurred.

What soccer followers have witnessed over the past 5 years has been the rise of an Argentina staff that hasn’t seen a nation be this dominant in world soccer since Spain was the preeminent No. 1 within the mid-2000s.

Picture by Jasper Juinen/Getty Pictures

Spain, which performs earlier within the day in opposition to England within the European ultimate (2 p.m. ET, Fox, Univision), took house the 2010 FIFA World Cup, sandwiched by a pair of European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

Argentina is poised to copy that success if they will defeat Colombia, after successful the 2021 Copa America and capturing the World Cup in Qatar the next 12 months. It’s been a staff that since a loss to Saudi Arabia within the first spherical of the World Cup has gone unbeaten, as Lionel Scaloni’s males are sitting on a powerful unbeaten streak following the 2-0 semifinal win over Canada.

Picture by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

What extra can Messi do?

As for its fearless chief in Messi, his profession has collected nearly each award one might seize for membership and nation.

Now, in a transfer to Main League Soccer’s Inter Miami FC, he’s grow to be the face of the league and has maintained his degree of recreation in what’s speculated to be thought-about the twilight of his fabulous profession after debuting as a 17-year-old long-haired teen in 2003.

“Everyone knows he’s the best participant to ever play the sport,” stated Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch earlier than the Copa America semifinal recreation in opposition to Argentina. “There’s worldwide respect for who he’s and … I believe it’s a privilege to play in opposition to a participant like him.”

However right here’s the factor. The place Messi has been the face of the Argentina for over twenty years, the participant pool — and particularly this Copa roster, comprised of most of the similar gamers that gained the World Cup — is arguably top-of-the-line proper now.

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The numbers inform Argentina’s story

Right here’s the rundown:

• There are 19 gamers who’ve 20-plus appearances for Argentina, with seven gamers boasting over 50 caps and three gamers in Messi (186), ahead Angel Di Maria (144) and defender Nicolas Otamendi (117) have over 100 appearances.
• Solely two gamers, one in all them being Messi don’t play for a membership in a prime European league — the opposite being backup goalkeeper Franco Armani, who’s the goalkeeper for River Plate, one of many prime golf equipment in Argentina.
• Argentina which had a mean age of 27.9 within the World Cup, received a bit older on this Copa run to the ultimate with a mean age of 28.3.
• The looks of Argentina in its semifinal match in opposition to Canada was the eighth time since 1993 the the nation has been on the brink of a championship and now, its second straight look after that 2-0 win.

In the long run, Messi or no Messi, that is an Argentina staff with sufficient expertise to proceed on a run of worldwide success. heading into the subsequent FIFA World Cup again which may also happen on American soil alongside Canada and Mexico in 2026.

And although it may be a ultimate hurrah following 2026 as this present corps will solely grow old, nevertheless it’s a trip that has put Argentina on the map because the world’s No. 1, a spot that in all probability gained’t change — even when they arrive up brief in opposition to Colombia.