One for the record book (AFP Photo)
Lionel Messi was in fine form in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Ecuador as he made two assists in injury time before adding a goal of his own via a superb free-kick.
Lionel Messi was at his best as Argentina took on Ecuador in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Copa America 2021 in Brazil on Saturday night. The maestro assisted two goals to give his team a 2–0 lead before injury time converted a direct free-kick over the net – the 58th of his professional career that saw him lose to his great rival Cristiano. Even ahead of Ronaldo.
After setting up teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Lautaro Martínez, Messi put on a memorable individual performance when he cleverly placed the Ecuadorian goalkeeper after jumping off the line and directing the ball to the far post.
The scoreline might suggest it was a sail for Argentina but as Messi explained after the match, it was the exact opposite. “The truth is it was a very tough match. We knew the difficulty of playing Ecuadorians who work hard with fast, physically strong, young players,” Messi said.
“It was a fight until we achieved the (second) goal,” he said.
Messi was the talk of the match but he said that the goal for him is to win the title. “I always say this: personal [moments] There are secondary, we are here for something else,” Messi said. “I want to congratulate the group for their work – we have been away from our families for several days.”
Argentina next face Colombia in the semi-finals on Tuesday, while hosts Brazil will take on Peru in the first semi-final 24 hours ago.
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