Lionel Messi motivated his teammates in the Argentina national team for the Copa America.

Lionel Messi celebrates his goal with his teammates from the Argentina natioanl team as the Copa America logo is on the bottom and the Argentina flag is on the top. (Source: Messi Xtra X, CONMEBOL)

Síguenos enLionel Messi and the Argentina national team advanced to the final of the Copa America after defeating Canada 2-0 in the semifinals last night. The goalscorers for Argentina in the match against Canada were Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi. The Argentina national team has already won this competition and won the 2022 World Cup, but they are still as motivated as ever to win the Copa America this summer. Messi motivated the team even more ahead of this match against Canada, and the players agreed to play for a special player on the national team. Alvarez spoke after the match and mentioned that Messi motivated the players beforehand because he wanted them to win the tournament for Angel Di Maria, who will retire from the national team after this Copa America. Alvarez said, “Leo Messi told us that this might be Di María’s last tournament and that we should dedicate reaching the final to him.” The Argentine icon made sure that Di Maria gets to win one more major trophy before he retires from professional football, which seems close.

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Lisandro Martinez also spoke about Messi’s motivational speech that made him feel that the win is for the people of Argentina. Martinez said, “It seems like we have the energy of a lot of people, that’s what happens to me. I believe a lot in energy and it seems like my family, my friends, the entire Argentine people are with us.”

Messi spoke about why it is special to make another final of a major international tournament, and he wants to do it for Di Maria. Messi said, “The same thing I said, we know these are final battles. Fide (Di Maria) already said it was his last Copa America and that it was ending for him. Honestly, it’s an extra joy that he can retire in a Copa America final.”

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Enzo Fernandez had a shot that was going on target, but Messi slightly deflected the trajectory of the ball and was awarded the goal. Messi explained the goal and said, “I told Enzo that it wasn’t my intention to take the goal away from him. I saw that the goalkeeper had just fallen and the ball was coming slowly. I deflected it a little because the goalkeeper almost saved it away from me too.”

Messi continued, “The important thing is that it counted, and we were able to make it 2-0, which gave us peace of mind.”