The goal, which came in his 112th global appearance, lifts him above Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 54 goals in 78 games for the two-time world cup champions.
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Argentina will play the big final this Sunday, June 26, at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey against the victor of the second semifinal between Colombia and Chile. “We’ve been spectacular from day one and we deserved this”.
Messi finished with a goal and two assists as Argentina routed the USA and will advance to the Copa America final. American goalkeeper Brad Guzan had absolutely no chance at a save.
Messi curled in a magnificent 32nd-minute free-kick to take his total to 55 goals as Argentina outclassed United States 4-0 in the Copa America semi-final in front of a 70,858 crowd at the NRG Stadium here on Tuesday.
Ezequiel Lavezzi also had a goal and an assist to help the Argentines remain unbeaten at 5-0-0 in the tournament and reach their second consecutive final.
“I’m very happy for him (Messi)”, Argentina head coach Gerardo Martino said. Chile scored both goals within the first 11 minutes and was able to hold on despite allowing 16 shot attempts and controlling the ball for just half the match. Argentina dominated the American team in a 4-0 victory, ending their run in the 2016 Copa America tournament.
However, the mercurial forward was on hand to have a say in the fourth goal, when his pinpoint pass set up Higuain to complete the rout with a simple tap in after 85 minutes. When you go down a goal to the best team in the world at the moment, it becomes that much harder. “You saw tonight why they are the number one team in the world”.
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Batistuta played for Argentina from 1991 to 2002, winning the Copa América in 1991 and 1993. With zero shots, the United States is the only team to go an entire match without a shot attempt in any of the last four Copa America tournaments.
