How many missed finals for Messi?
Leo Messi will play the final of the Copa America against Brazil. How many finals did he miss?
Much has been said about Messi’s inability to recreate his club form in the Argentine shirt, and the Rosario-born striker has now been on the losing side in three Copa America finals.
2007 was the first taste of disappointment in the Copa for the striker, as Brazil were too strong for the Argentine.
The Brazilians won 3-0 with goals from Baptista, an og Ayala and Dani Alves completing the score. The next heartbreak for Messi came in Santiago as Chile and Argentina played to a 0-0 draw in the final match of the 2015 Copa America.
Messi was the only Argentine player to score his shot on goal and the misses by Huguain and Banega saw Chile crowned champions. The following year (2016) at the Copa America Centenario held in the United States, Chile and Argentina again reached the final and history repeated itself with a tie after extra time.
Messi missed his attempt and once again Chile was crowned champion. Messi was so distraught after the game that he announced his retirement from the international team, before the striker reversed his decision a few months later.
Although he represented Argentina in four World Cup finals, Messi only reached the final in the 2014 tournament in Brazil, against Germany.
A tense affair that was finally resolved by Mario Gotze’s only goal in the 113th minute after a 0-0 draw at the end of regulation time. It is expected that Qatar 2022 will be the last attempt of Messi to a great victory in selection.
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