Messi and Argentina Overcome Canada and Challenging Field Conditions to Start Copa America Title Defense with 2-0 Victory.
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Lionel Messi's exceptional playmaking helped Argentina kick off their Copa America title defense with a 2-0 victory over Canada, despite challenging conditions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Messi's precise through ball set up Julián Álvarez for a goal in the 49th minute, and the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner later assisted on Lautaro Martínez’s goal in the 88th minute.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve done this,” Messi said through a translator. “We had patience to retain possession, but it was hard to find good open spaces.”
Argentina, aiming for their third consecutive major title after winning the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, dominated the second half, outshooting Canada 12-3.
Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez criticized the temporary grass surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one of the venues for the 2026 World Cup.
“The field was a disaster,” Martínez said. “It felt like a springboard with the ball bouncing unpredictably. Improvements are needed to maintain the tournament's standard.”
Grass was laid over the usual artificial turf following a Major League Soccer game on Saturday.
“Thank goodness we won, otherwise it would have seemed like a cheap excuse,” Scaloni said. “They knew seven months ago we'd be playing here, but they changed the surface just days ago. Sincerely, this field is not fit for these players.”
Canadian defender Kamal Miller echoed the sentiment.
“It felt like walking on a stage, as if it was hollow,” he said.
A crowd of 70,564 attended the tournament opener. The United States will play Panama at the stadium on June 27.
With the championship moved to the U.S. for the second time, Messi set a Copa America record with his 35th match, surpassing Chile’s Sergio Livingstone (1941-53). Messi also extended his own assist record to 18.
He was briefly shaken by a sliding tackle from defender Moïse Bombito in the 82nd minute but continued playing.
“It was physically intense,” Messi remarked.
Argentina will face Chile on Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and close the first round against Peru on June 29 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Canada will play Peru on Tuesday in Kansas City, Kansas, and conclude the group stage against Chile on June 29 in Orlando, Florida.
The tournament, featuring 14 U.S. stadiums, will run through July 14, ending in Miami Gardens, Florida. Six teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean join the 10 South American squads, as in the centennial Copa America in 2016.
Slow starts have not hindered Argentina before; they began the 2022 World Cup with a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia and the 2021 Copa America with a 1-1 draw against Chile.
Canada made its Copa America debut under American coach Jesse Marsch, hired on May 13. The Canadians have yet to score in three matches under Marsch.
“Before these matches, I told the team that regardless of the outcomes, we need to come out stronger, more confident, and with greater belief,” Marsch said. “It’s painful to let this game slip away, but we need to focus on our development.”
Argentina fielded eight starters from the 2022 World Cup final win over France, with Lisandro Martínez, Marcos Acuña, and Leandro Paredes replacing Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, and Enzo Fernández.
Emiliano Martínez made a crucial save in the 43rd minute, using his left hand to deflect a bouncing header by Stephen Eustáquio.
After the match, Canadian star Alphonso Davies exchanged jerseys with Messi.
“Being on the pitch and playing against him was truly a blessing,” Davies said.
