The Albiceleste made it to three major tournament finals in three years as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi inspired a star-studded team to a 4-0 thrashing of hosts USA. The four-time Ballon D’Or winner scored a 32nd minute free-kick to break Gabriel Batistuta’s all-time goal scoring record for Argentina.
Fired up by the desire to end a 23-year drought of major trophies, Argentina have been relentless, coming into this year’s Copa America. They have brushed aside every team that has stood in the way of a potential 15th continental honour and USA weren’t treated any differently.
The hosts were pummeled 4-0 in front of their own crowd in Houston as Argentina went through to their second consecutive Copa America final. They’ll look to go all the way this time around having tragically lost out to Chile on penalties in 2015.
The Albiceleste took the lead in just the 3rd minute when Lionel Messi chipped the ball into space for Ezekiel Lavezzi, who headed the ball past Brad Guzan. Then, just past the half-hour mark Messi struck a majestic free-kick into the far corner to double the advantage for his side on the night.
This goal helped the Barcelona forward to break Gabriel Batistuta’s all-time goal tally of 54 for Argentina.
Higuain got into the act after half time when Messi set him up beautifully in the 50th minute only for the Napoli hit-man to strike the ball straight into the goalkeeper. However, a fortunate rebound gave him a second chance, which he gratefully accepted. He netted his second, when in the 85th minute,Messi set him up to shoot into an empty goal, to complete a comprehensive victory for the Argentines.
Lionel Messi’s performance on the night left world bowing before him out of respect as folks took to Twitter to voice their respect and appreciation for the 29-year-old.
Sport usually about levels. Argentina in mood are a different class to nearly every team in the World – and that includes USA.
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) June 22, 2016
People will look for scapegoats tonight, and there are many worthy ones, but fact is Argentina is MUCH better than USA. #ADifferentLevel
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) June 22, 2016
No shame in this. Argentina an elite, hungry, motivated team. Let’s see how they do in the rematch: Semi Final of World Cup USA 2026 ??????
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) June 22, 2016
Argentina faced more problems caused by advertisement boards than they did from the USA tonight
— barcastuff (@barcasstuff) June 22, 2016
Argentina has USA soccer fans asking when real football season starts? pic.twitter.com/UpUxSCDFfK
— Rusty Mansell (@Mansell247) June 22, 2016
The USA is back to back World War winners so we have that over Argentina
— Atlanta Sports Guy (@Atlantasportguy) June 22, 2016
USA/Argentina replay at 4am ET on FS1 pic.twitter.com/HHlmiao9gL
— Chris Hassel (@hasselESPN) June 22, 2016
xG map for USA – Argentina.
It had to be done. pic.twitter.com/NJNJoi1t8A
— Michael Caley (@MC_of_A) June 22, 2016
Beating Costa Rica 4-0 didn’t mean USA had arrived as world power & losing 4-0 to Argentina doesn’t mean program is derailed. Stop.
— Randall Hauk (@odroku) June 22, 2016
Messi breaks Gabriel Batistuta’s record
Messi broke Fiorentina and Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta’s 14-year old national goal-scoring record at Houston, where the Barcelona forward eclipsed the tally of 54 with a majestic free-kick to net his 55th for the national side. A superlative performance from the Argentine even forced a supporter at full-time to invade the pitch just so he could bow down to the master.
There will never be another player like him. Cherish him folks, for as long as we have him.He is impossible.He is inexplicable. He is Messi.
— totalBarça (@totalBarca) June 22, 2016
A fan gets Messi’s autograph on his shirt, bows down to him, hugs him twice. Just beautiful…. pic.twitter.com/4pdFn9qEk4
— YasserTheGreat (@TheBarcaFanBoy) June 22, 2016
Whenever I see Messi plays pic.twitter.com/J8Smf4tcla“
— INDOBARCA KUDUS (@INDOBARCA_KUDS) June 22, 2016
The amount of USA supporters still wearing a messi jersey at that game was absurd #GOAT
— golfwang (@Flickwolfgang) June 22, 2016
USA vs Argentina, it’s good that USA had front row seats to watch what soccer REALLY is. Once again spectacular work by Lionel Messi.
— nora k (@Noratheunicornn) June 22, 2016
I’m no soccer expert but that Messi pass and free kick was some lol material. Get out of here with that stuff. Just too good. #analysis
— Chris Cottrell (@OffAirOnPoint) June 22, 2016
Can Argentina go on and win the competition?
Surely the Albiceleste must be third time lucky shouldn’t they? It’s been a heart-breaking run in major tournaments for Argentina who lost both a World Cup final and a Copa America final in the last two years. With such a dominant show this time, they are once again fancied to lift the title.
But Argentina will know all too well that a cup final is a completely different ball-game and their run-up to that stage has no bearing on the actual result on the big night. Therefore, Tata Martino will hope that his side can keep the same level of intensity going into the final, where they could face either Colombia or defending champions Chile depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s second semi-final at Chicago.
