With the Copa America on the horizon next summer in the USA, let's examine whether or not Lionel Messi will play.
The Argentine legend will be 37 at the start of the tournament, which may be his last.
Messi heroically led his country to the 2021 Copa America title, the team's first in 28 years. It was also captain Messi's first major trophy with the Albiceleste.
The 2021 Copa America triumph enlivened the Argentine side, sparking the team's subsequent World Cup glory in 2022. Messi won his record-setting 8th Ballon for leading Argentina to the country's third World Cup title.
Will Messi play in Copa America 2024 in the United States?
Copa America 2024 starts on June 20 in Atlanta, Georgia, and ends in Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 14. 14 American cities, including Dallas, Charlotte, Glendale, and Las Vegas, will host all the matches.
In group A, Argentina lines up in the group stages against Peru and Chile and kicks off the tournament against either Canada vs. Trinidad and Tobago.
Assuming Messi stays healthy in his first full season with MLS side Inter Miami, he's 100% expected to play in Copa America 2024. He also has a chip on his shoulder from the last time he played Copa America in the United States, having lost to Chile at Metlife Stadium in the 2016 final. He'll get his chance at redemption when Argentina meet Chile June 25th at the East Rutherford venue.
However, it remains uncertain whether Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni will continue his duties into next summer. The World Cup-winning coach recently admitted after defeating Brazil 1-0 at the Maracanã in World Cup Qualifying that he could step down before year-end due to burnout.
Copa America 2024 Groups
Group A
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- 🇵🇪 Peru
- 🇨🇱 Chile
- 🇨🇦🇹🇹 Concacaf 5 (Canada/Trinidad and Tobago)
Group B
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador
- 🇻🇪 Venezuela
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica
Group C
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- 🇵🇦 Panama
- 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Group D
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇴 Colombia
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay
- 🇭🇳🇨🇷 Concacaf 6 (Honduras/Costa Rica)
2024 Copa America Schedule
Group Stage
Thursday, June 20
- 🇦🇷 Argentina vs. 🇨🇦🇹🇹 Canada/Trinidad & Tobago (Atlanta, Georgia)
Friday, June 21
- 🇵🇪 Peru vs. 🇨🇱 Chile (Arlington, Texas)
Saturday, June 22
- 🇲🇽 Mexico vs. 🇯🇲 Jamaica (Houston, Texas)
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador vs. 🇻🇪 Venezuela (Santa Clara, California)
Sunday, June 23
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay vs. 🇵🇦 Panama (Miami Gardens, Florida)
- 🇺🇸 United States vs. 🇧🇴 Bolivia (Arlington, Texas)
Monday, June 24
- 🇨🇴 Colombia vs. 🇵🇾 Paraguay (Houston, Texas)
- 🇧🇷 Brazil vs. 🇭🇳🇨🇷 Honduras/Costa Rica (Inglewood, California)
Tuesday, June 25
- 🇨🇱 Chile vs. 🇦🇷 Argentina (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
- 🇵🇪 Peru vs. 🇨🇦🇹🇹 Canada/Trinidad & Tobago (Kansas City, Kansas)
Wednesday, June 26
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador vs. 🇯🇲 Jamaica (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- 🇻🇪 Venezuela vs. 🇲🇽 Mexico (Inglewood, California)
Thursday, June 27
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay vs. 🇧🇴 Bolivia (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
- 🇵🇦 Panama vs. 🇺🇸 United States (Atlanta, Georgia)
Friday, June 28
- 🇨🇴 Colombia vs. 🇭🇳🇨🇷 Honduras/Costa Rica (Glendale, Arizona)
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay vs. 🇧🇷 Brazil (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Saturday, June 29
- 🇦🇷 Argentina vs. 🇵🇪 Peru (Miami Gardens, Florida)
- 🇨🇦🇹🇹 Canada/Trinidad & Tobago vs. 🇨🇱 Chile (Orlando, Florida)
Sunday, June 30
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica vs. 🇻🇪 Venezuela (Austin, Texas)
- 🇲🇽 Mexico vs. 🇪🇨 Ecuador (Glendale, Arizona)
Monday, July 1
- 🇧🇴 Bolivia vs. 🇵🇦 Panama (Orlando, Florida)
- 🇺🇸 United States vs. 🇺🇾 Uruguay (Kansas City, Missouri)
Tuesday, July 2
- 🇭🇳🇨🇷 Honduras/Costa Rica vs. 🇵🇾 Paraguay (Austin, Texas)
- 🇧🇷 Brazil vs. 🇨🇴 Colombia (Santa Clara, California)
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 4
- Match 25: Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up (Houston, Texas)
Friday, July 5
- Match 26: Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up (Arlington, Texas)
Saturday, July 6
- Match 28: Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up (Glendale, Arizona)
- Match 27: Group C winner vs. Group D runner-up (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Semifinals
Tuesday, July 9
- Match 25 winner vs. Match 26 winner (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
Wednesday, July 10
- Match 27 winner vs. Match 28 winner (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Third-place game
Saturday, July 13
- Semifinal loser one vs. Semifinal loser two (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Final
Sunday, July 14
- Semifinal winner one vs. Semifinal winner two (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Photo: Twitter/AlbicelesteTalk, Wikimedia Commons
