Messi or no Messi, Argentina has change into the workforce to beat in world soccer

What does life seem like for Argentina within the post-Lionel Messi period — at any time when that lastly occurs?

Properly, judging by their present run of kind 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, nonetheless stranger issues have occurred.

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

Photograph by Jasper Juinen/Getty Pictures

Spain, which performs earlier within the day towards 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 duplicate that success if they’ll defeat Colombia, after successful the 2021 Copa America and capturing the World Cup in Qatar the next yr. It’s been a workforce 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.

Photograph 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 may seize for membership and nation.

Now, in a transfer to Main League Soccer’s Inter Miami FC, he’s change into the face of the league and has maintained his stage of recreation in what’s presupposed 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 towards Argentina. “There may be worldwide respect for who he’s and … I believe it’s a privilege to play towards a participant like him.”

However right here’s the factor. The place Messi has been the face of the Argentina for over 20 years, the participant pool — and particularly this Copa roster, comprised of lots of the identical gamers that received the World Cup — is arguably the most effective proper now.

Photograph by Al Bello/Getty Pictures

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, obtained 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 towards 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.

Ultimately, Messi or no Messi, that is an Argentina workforce with sufficient expertise to proceed on a run of worldwide success. heading into the following FIFA World Cup again which can even happen on American soil alongside Canada and Mexico in 2026.

And although it is likely to be a ultimate hurrah following 2026 as this present corps will solely become older, however it’s a trip that has put Argentina on the map because the world’s No. 1, a spot that most likely received’t change — even when they arrive up quick towards Colombia.