A Look Ahead to the Copa America: Messi Aims for Another Title! Will Argentina Achieve a Third Consecutive Major Title Win? Can Colombia Pull Off an Upset?

On the morning of July 15 at 8 AM, the 2024 Copa America will see its final showdown as Argentina faces off against Colombia for the ultimate title. If Argentina lifts the trophy, they will not only retain their championship but also replicate Spain’s previous feat of winning three major titles in a row. Meanwhile, Colombia is aiming to break a 23-year title drought.

Following their World Cup triumph in 2022, Argentina has continued to showcase their strength. With favorable draws in this tournament, they have largely avoided traditional powerhouses throughout the competition. They secured consecutive wins over Canada, Chile, and Peru in the group stage, followed by victories against Ecuador and another win over Canada in the knockout rounds, smoothly advancing to the finals.

The resurgence of Colombia has been impressive, finishing above Brazil with two wins and one draw in the group stage to top their group and advance to the quarterfinals. In the knockout stages, they delivered a resounding 5-0 victory over Panama and then defeated the heavily favored Uruguay 1-0 in a clash of giants, confidently reaching the finals. It’s worth noting that Colombia is currently on a 28-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, closing in on Italy’s record.

Argentina’s defense has been outstanding in this tournament, conceding no goals in all three group stage matches while scoring five. So far in the knockout rounds, they’ve only conceded one goal, keeping four clean sheets out of five matches, with a goal differential of 8-1, demonstrating their strength. Colombia, on the other hand, has shown greater attacking prowess, scoring 12 goals in five games while also conceding just two. Given the stronger opponents they’ve faced (Brazil, Uruguay), their performances carry more weight.

Individually, Messi has contributed one goal and one assist in this tournament so far, although he has achieved the remarkable feat of scoring in six consecutive Copa America tournaments, setting multiple records. James Rodriguez has made a triumphant return to the national team, recording six assists and one goal in five games, directly contributing to seven goals. The former Real Madrid number 10 has once again proven that his creativity remains reliable.

Of course, Argentina’s overall strength is undeniable. Although Messi hasn’t scored many goals, Lautaro Martinez has netted four times in five matches, leading the goal-scoring charts ahead of Rondon. He has become the key to ensuring Argentina’s continued firepower.

In their last ten encounters, Argentina has won six matches, with three ending in draws, while Colombia has claimed only one victory, which dates back five years to the Copa America. Interestingly, Colombia’s most recent defeat was also inflicted by Argentina. During their meeting in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Colombia lost 0-1 and subsequently failed to qualify for the Qatar World Cup. It seems that Argentina holds a certain jinx over Colombia.

This match carries significant importance for Argentina. After winning the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, if they lift the trophy again in this Copa America, they will achieve a third consecutive major title win. Moreover, they would accomplish this feat in just three years, even faster than Spain’s golden era. Simultaneously, Messi would secure his 45th title, continuing to set new records.

It should be noted that although Messi didn’t win the MLS title, if he performs exceptionally well in the Copa America final, considering his inherent advantages in the Ballon d’Or voting, he could still emerge as a frontrunner, potentially outshining players like Bellingham, Vinicius, and Rodri to claim his ninth Ballon d’Or.

Leisu Sports will continue to provide free video live streaming services for all fans during this match. Join us on Leisu to witness the crowning of the Copa America champions. For the Copa America, head to Leisu Sports!

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