Leo Messi becomes the player with the 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 appearances in the history of the Copa América

Lionel Messi has achieved yet another milestone in his legendary career by breaking the all-time record for most appearances at Copa America. The Inter Miami star, at 36 years old, marked this significant feat by starting the opening game of the 2024 tournament, which resulted in a 2-0 win for Argentina over Canada. This remarkable achievement allowed Messi to surpass the previous record held by the legendary Chilean goalkeeper, Sergio Livingstone.

Messi’s appearance in the match on Thursday night in Atlanta marked his 35th appearance across seven tournaments, tracing back to his debut in 2007. Impressively, he has participated in no fewer than four appearances at every edition of the Copa America since his first, including a noteworthy seven appearances during Argentina’s triumphant title-winning campaign in 2021.

Comparatively, Livingstone, the esteemed goalkeeper from Chile, made 34 appearances across six editions of the tournament between 1941 and 1953. However, Messi’s impact on the pitch extends beyond appearances alone, as he boasts a staggering 183 caps for his country. Additionally, he has showcased his remarkable skill and contribution with 108 goals and 56 assists, all of which stand as Argentine records. Notably, his 13 Copa America goals place him just four shy of the long-standing record held by Brazil’s Zizinho and Messi’s fellow countryman, Norberto Mendez, a record that has remained unbroken since 1957.

Looking ahead, Messi aims to secure his third tournament victory as a senior international, following Argentina’s Copa America triumph in 2021 and his captaincy in leading the national team to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Moreover, his illustrious career includes an Olympic gold medal, earned as an under-23 player at the Beijing Games in 2008.

In the recent match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez were pivotal in securing Argentina’s victory by scoring the crucial goals. As they progress in the tournament, Argentina’s next matches are against Chile on June 25, followed by a clash against Peru on June 29.