Messi is happy: “We have to enjoy”

The captain of Argentina’s soccer team, Lionel Messiwelcomed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Canada at the start of the 2024 Copa América and, after the effort, said the victory was to be enjoyed.

“We have to enjoy because the rivals are going to try to play us differently,” said number 10 after the game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the city of Atlanta.

Messi, who turns 37 on June 24, became the player with the most games in the Copa América on Thursday, 35, more than Chile goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone.

The man from Rosario, whose goal was incredible after a precise assist from goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, provided a surgical assist to Lautaro Martínez to make it 2-0.

Despite the victory, it left an unfinished task for Lionel Scaloni’s team ahead of the second match in Group A, this Tuesday against Chile: “We have to be in control.”

“I always say that the first game of any competition is difficult, but the most important thing is that we get the result going forward. We had some pretty clear situations and it didn’t happen. They are an intense team, with a strong physical players who came out quickly, we know it won’t be easy and I think all Cup matches will be like this,” he said in the mixed zone of the Mercedes Benz stadium.

Messi admitted, as did his coach Lionel Scaloni, that the state of the pitch was not in their favour. The field didn’t help either, the team in general made a significant physical effort but we have days to rest and prepare for Chile, which will also be complicated,” he added.

Regarding his new record for the player with the most appearances in the history of the Copa América, he said: “The truth is that I should not look at those things about records. , in an official competition with the national team and will try we give our best as always.