Argentina’s veteran Lionel Messi believes they must be at their absolute best if they are to defend their Copa America title. La Albiceleste will begin their Copa América campaign against Canada on Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia.
Peru and Chile are the other two teams in Group A. The World Champions will need to bring their A-game against the top teams and can not afford to be complacent.
“Today, we can say that we are the best because we are the world champions. But that does not make us believe that we are going to win this Copa América by walking,” Messi said.
“It is going to be very level, all the teams are complicated. Ecuador has a generation of very good youngsters, who know well what they want, they are intense with the ball, they are clear about what they do and they are physically strong. And like them, you also have Colombia, Uruguay, not to mention Brazil. That’s why I say it will be even and our team is aware that we are going to have to continue doing the same and more to win again.”
In 2021, Argentina had beaten arch-rivals Brazil by 1-0 in the Copa America final, which was their first major trophy in 28 years. Messi’s team then went on to lift the prestigious World Cup title by beating France in the summit clash. Since then, Argentina has won five out of their six World Cup qualifiers and they are in solid form.
On the other hand, Brazil will miss the services of their talisman forward Neymar Jr, who is out with an injury.
“It [Neymar’s absence] is a shame, but they have a million players,” Messi said. “Brazil always has plenty of players because they are continually different. They have a very strong, very competitive team. Brazil is like Argentina: it’s a candidate and wants to win the Copa América.”
Messi wants to enjoy the tournament and not think much about his future.
“I value all those moments [with the squad] very much because I know that there is less and less time left until everything is over and that in some way I am going to miss all of that,” the Inter Miami forward said. “The truth is that it was very difficult for me at first to take the step and leave European football to come here [United States], but once I was here I adapted very quickly and live day to day and think in the moment. Today I feel that I am still fine, that I can continue competing, I continue training, I continue taking care of myself just as I always did, or even more, and I live for the moments. For now I don’t think about the future.”
