The numbers and records that Lionel Messi can reach in the Copa América

The beginning of the Copa America 2024 It is imminent. The continental tournament will be held in the United States starting this Thursday, June 20, when Argentina will debut against Canada. Lionel Messi will play his last Copa América with the albiceleste, although not without beating some records.

In this sense, the captain of the Argentine national team will have the chance to achieve some records that would continue to place him as the best soccer player in history and with impressive numbers.

From now on, as soon as the opening match against CanadaLa Pulga will become the footballer with the most matches in the history of the competition, adding 35 to his name and surpassing the Chilean Sergio Levingstone, who has 34.

In addition, he will become the first Argentine to compete in seven editions of the competition that brings together the American teams, after having participated in Venezuela 2007, Argentina 2011, Chile 2015, United States 2016, Brazil 2019 and Brazil 2021. But he still has many more records to achieve.

• He could be the first footballer in the history of continental tournaments to win the award for Best Player of the competition twice in a rowsince he took it in the 2021 Copa América in Brazil.
• If he wins, he would become the first to obtain the individual award three timesthanks to the fact that in addition to achieving it during the last edition of the tournament, he had also done it in Chile, in 2015.
• If he scores four more goals (he has 13 in this competition) he will become the top scorer in the history of the Copa Américaand will thus surpass the Argentine Norberto Méndez and the Brazilian Zizinho, who share first place with 17 goals.

• In case of scoring a hat-trickwill enter an exclusive list of 10 players who achieved this maneuver twice during the competition.

• Most matches in World Cups: 26 matches, between Germany 2006 and Qatar 2022.
• Most minutes played (2,314).
• Most matches played as captain (19).
• The only one to score goals in the first phase, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinal and final of the same tournament (Qatar 2022).
• Most goals and assists in World Cups: 21 (eight assists and 13 goals). Pelé follows him, with 20 (12 shouts and eight passes).

• Date 1: Argentina – Canada: Thursday, June 20 at 9 p.m. (Argentine time). Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta.
• Date 2: Argentina – Chile: Tuesday, June 25 at 10 p.m. MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey.
• Date 3: Argentina – Peru: Saturday, June 29 at 9 p.m. Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami.