Argentina began their Copa America title defense with a 2-0 victory over Canada. Lionel Messi set an all-time record for Copa America appearances and became the first player to register an assist in seven different tournaments. Despite not scoring, Messi delivered a Player of the Match performance with one assist, six shots, and five key passes. Julian Alvarez scored one of Argentina's goals. Canada's goalkeeper, Max Crepeau, was a standout performer, keeping the scoreline respectable. Both teams criticized the playing surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with Argentina's manager Lionel Scaloni calling it a 'disaster.' The match was witnessed by a crowd of 70,000, and Canada, under the management of Jesse Marsch, will look to improve in their next game against Peru.
‘A disaster’: Copa América’s makeshift fields spark ire of Argentina players, questions about 2026 World Cup MORE: https://t.co/uukGwIlccD https://t.co/F1pXhUd6pp
#INVIDEO | In the opening match of the Copa América, Argentina's national soccer team defeated Canada 2-0. https://t.co/7p1rdvfKBG
Argentina’s incredible ball play for their second goal vs Canada 🤩🇦🇷 https://t.co/GIazA5vLOt
⚽️🐐Behind the scenes with Messi after Argentina beat Canada 2-0 in Copa America opener Messi Postcard: Media crowds converge on him after games. Here’s how he handles it https://t.co/fPr2E2ZblS @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports #Messi #CopaAmerica #InterMiami
Lionel Messi was so happy to see his former Inter Miami teammate after Argentina's win against Canada in Copa America 🥹 What it's all about ❤️ (via @TyCSports) https://t.co/ttg24HtSvf
Argentina rips ‘disaster’ field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for 2024 Copa America https://t.co/2iTmj2EY31 https://t.co/rwwHM5h7Pf
‘The field was a disaster’ – Argentina stars fume at state of the pitch for Copa America opener https://t.co/ZyqyY4Mu5n
Grass playing surface at Falcons stadium for Copa América draws criticism https://t.co/9q8nzWbVRZ
🏆 The Copa America is off to a thrilling start! 🇦🇷 Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over 🇨🇦 Canada in their opening match. This week, we have a special edition of #LaSemanita, where we dive into all the action and updates from the tournament. Check it out! 👇👇 #CopaAmerica… https://t.co/1fb6qDNsss
Argentina’s heavy criticism of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium surface puts spotlight on the Benz for the wrong reasons. With @PaulTenorio https://t.co/6OeOFocazC
⚽️🇦🇷🐐🏆Messi, Scaloni comment on challenges Argentina faced in 2-0 Copa America opening win over Canada https://t.co/BgUKFETDB0 @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports #CopaAmerica
From @TheAthleticFC: Lionel Messi wasn’t on the scoresheet but he was the catalyst that inspired Argentina toward a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Canada in the Copa America opener. It was a captain’s performance from the 36-year-old. https://t.co/hi4vKiV5D8
5 thoughts from Canada's hard-fought loss to Argentina. 💭 https://t.co/jdPIHVZMGb (via @GianlucaNesci) https://t.co/i2O8L1k92O
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni criticized the grass at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for affecting his team's tactics in the Copa América opener. The stadium and CONMEBOL planned to discuss potentially replacing the field. https://t.co/4YjaV1Crp4
"The state of the pitch was a disaster," said Argentina's GK of the surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday. On Wednesday, @_DavidRumsey wrote this for @FOS ⤵️ https://t.co/gbn6ZNdV0l
"He's won it all" 🏆 @ManCity's Julian Alvarez was on the scoresheet for @Argentina in their 2024 Copa America opener as the World Cup winners look to add to their illustrious history 🇦🇷✨
"He's a world champion" 🏆 @ManCity's Julian Alvarez was on the scoresheet for @Argentina in their 2024 Copa America opener as the World Cup winners look to add to their illustrious history 🇦🇷✨
Lionel Messi is 37 next week and was targeted by Canada in the opening game of Copa America. It didn't bother him one bit (does it ever?) as he delivered a true captain's performance to inspire Argentina's 2-0 win. The holders will take some stopping, says @FelipeCar
Alexis assists on the way to an @Argentina win this morning 🇦🇷🙌 #CopaAmérica https://t.co/apeiN528Xr
🚨🚨| RECORD: Lionel Messi has become the 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 player ever to register an assist in 7 different Copa Américas. 🤩🇦🇷 https://t.co/q4ertpMoxJ
Leo Messi is the first player to have an assist in SEVEN different Copa América Tournament!🎁 https://t.co/5Ye7Qzd5el
A win and a clean sheet for Cuti and Gio as Argentina began their @CopaAmerica campaign against Canada ✅ https://t.co/QvPAzPIM6r
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi kicks off Copa America with a Player of the Match performance: 1 assist 6 shots 5 key passes 2 accurate through balls 9 touches in the opposition box 5/5 accurate long balls https://t.co/SInKJutw2l
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi kicks off Copa America with a Player of the Match Performance: 1 assist 6 shots 5 key passes 2 accurate through balls 9 touches in the opposition box 5/5 accurate long balls https://t.co/DqSmw6X2WI
🇦🇷 @julianalvarezzz scored in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Canada in the #CopaAmerica opener! 🔥 Read more ⤵️
Lionel Messi loves the Copa America 💙🤍 #BBCFootball https://t.co/iVgFatDU1a
Argentina begin Copa America title defence with a win against Canada. #CopaAmerica #Argentina #LionelMessi https://t.co/LUOrnZ6HBn
Lionel Messi breaks another record at Copa America. Get all the details here. #Argentina #CopaAmerica #LionelMessi https://t.co/GNeET6M5lU
Lionel Messi sets a new Copa América record with 35 appearances, and becomes the first Argentine to feature in seven editions of the tournament 🇦🇷🏟️ 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 🐐 https://t.co/dwbfuDsDSO
The Copa America defending champions got off to a winning start against Canada 🇦🇷 #BBCFootball https://t.co/3IqITTZCGJ
Argentina, Canada criticize playing surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after Copa America opener https://t.co/IFdTaInjDT
🚨 Argentina kicked their Copa America campaign off last night with a 2-0 win over Canada. Lionel Messi notched the 373rd assist of his career. 🤯🐐 #CopaAmèrica https://t.co/o7JYReGFKS
The midfielder speaks after Canada's hard-fought loss to Argentina. 🗣️ https://t.co/k4pR7HCkJU
Argentina's Scaloni unhappy with pitch after win over Canada in Copa opener https://t.co/srT42JBfGh https://t.co/lmITxhttqo
Conventional wisdom suggested that Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates would pump plenty of goals past Canada and give them a valuable footballing lesson. But such a browbeating never materialized at Copa America. (@JohnMolinaro) https://t.co/q2s0RcsUsR
🚨⚽️🐐🏆UPDATED WITH MESSI QUOTES, SCALONI COMPLAINTS OF THE FIELD: Messi scoreless, crowd of 70,000 sees Argentina beat Canada 2-0 in Copa America opener. Full recap. https://t.co/XQXc589IqR @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports #Messi #CopaAmérica #CopaAmérica2024 #Argentina #Canada
🚨⚽️🐐Lionel Messi discusses the challenges of the game after Argentina’s 2-0 win vs Canada in Copa America opener (pardon the bad camera work in first part). @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports #CopaAmérica #CopaAmérica2024 #Messi https://t.co/xL2BEGLjdm
Lionel Messi has big night as Argentina begins Copa America defense in style https://t.co/Qr8m61fVV6 https://t.co/D8EomICmk6
Canada ’keeper puts on a show but Canada still falls to Argentina at Copa America https://t.co/46M8jApWBz https://t.co/V2vj2JCY4c
Messi becomes most capped player in Copa America history https://t.co/sxK8iYXBlk
Messi sets all-time record for Copa America appearances https://t.co/jiOCU9li8k https://t.co/fSEzlnwsah
Leo Messi is the first player to have an assist in SEVEN different Copa Américas 🎁 https://t.co/lAlIS0l338
Canada ‘keeper puts on a show but Canada still falls to Argentina at Copa America https://t.co/M2XxL1oQ5M https://t.co/pnpPBkTxHt
Argentina finishes the opening match of Copa America with a 2-0 win over Canada. ◽️ Was Canada the better team in the first half? ◽️ Did Argentina need some halftime mind games to win? ◽️ What did the coaches have to say after? Instant analysis ⤵️ https://t.co/T3Aa8B7XOB https://t.co/wKNoBztk0A
And we're off! ⏱️ Half-time mind games 🧤 Chapeau Crepeau ⚽️ Argentina get the job done Argentina 2-0 Canada from @FelipeCar @PaulTenorio & @joshuakloke in Atlanta: https://t.co/6t5NkCBs8I
Despite Josse Mouschinho's best efforts, Lionel Messi and Argentina escape their Copa America opener with a win over Canada. CANADA FANS, is this 2-0 loss actually a 0-2 victory? 🤔🇨🇦 ARGENTINA FANS, the bar is high...how you feel about that first-match performance? 🇦🇷 https://t.co/OELIiR2umT
Max Crepeau was massive as Canada hung with Argentina for most of their Copa America opener: Takeaways from Atlanta #CanMNT https://t.co/3lmLUlLHBx
Argentina begin their @CopaAmerica title defense with a win. 🇦🇷 https://t.co/Ehwlr8GYl5
Missed big chances a storyline for Canada yet again. I like the ambition to go toe-to-toe with Argentina, but I’d love to see this squad get some actual results in a major tournament sometime soon.
Positives for @CanadaSoccerEN kept Messi off the score sheet & Maxim Crepeau was sensational. But the moral victory talk in Canada has to stop they have to finish their chances and under Jesse Marsch era at least get one goal. Onto Peru Next #CopaAmerica #NoFearAllFight…