Enjoy every minute
“When the moment comes, we will focus on the game and see how it goes. I am the same as always, calm and waiting for the game to come. I am much calmer than before, after everything we have been through in recent years,” Messi said in an interview with Fox Sports Argentina, just before the final against Colombia.
This is a very rare move from Messi before previous finals, showing that at the age of 37 and having achieved all the glory for the team, this famous player has become more comfortable and enjoys everything that is coming in his career. “The decision to give up retirement to return to the team is the best decision I have made,” Messi confided.
Before winning the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima (the Intercontinental Super Cup between the champions of South America and Europe) and the 2022 World Cup, Messi’s other important finals for Argentina were all failures. So bitter that he decided to retire from the national team in 2016 after the Copa America , also in the US. That was 3 consecutive finals including the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America, in which this famous player could not reach the championship title.
“Now, after what happened, I’m trying to enjoy everything more and live every moment to the fullest. No rush, no thinking about anything far away, just for the present,” Messi emphasized.
The 2024 Copa America final is also the time when Argentina will say goodbye to its veterans: veteran striker Di Maria, center back Otamendi. This could even be Messi’s last “battle” in the Albiceleste shirt regardless of the outcome.
Everything is open for Messi now, meaning he can continue or stop depending on how he feels. Therefore, the 2024 Copa America final is first and foremost a historic moment for Messi.
Messi admires Colombia
“We watched the semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia. We knew that no matter who the opponent was, the final would be very difficult. There must be a reason why the Colombian team has not lost a match for such a long time (22 wins, 6 draws since February 2022). This is a team with very good players, very strong. Up front, they have fast and dynamic players. And moreover, this is a final,” said Messi.
Colombia, after missing out on the 2022 World Cup due to a painful 0-1 defeat in the qualifying round against Argentina (February 2022), has undergone a major change with coach Nestor Lorenzo (Argentine) taking charge. Since then, they have created a record-breaking unbeaten streak and are on their way back to the 2026 World Cup (currently ranked 3rd in the South American qualifying round). Moreover, “La Tricolor” entered the final of the 2024 Copa America with the miraculous revival of talented midfielder James Rodriguez, who set a new record with 6 assists in the tournament, scored 1 goal and won 4 best player of the match titles, in 5 matches played.
The rivalry between Argentina and Colombia, or between Messi and James Rodriguez, is therefore more worth watching than ever.
