Lionel Messi is regarded as one of the greatest players in football history. Many even regard him as the very best player ever. The Argentine has won every single individual and team title available to him at Barcelona. His 6 Ballon d’Ors is a record in itself. The only deficiency about Messi is that he has never won a senior trophy with his Country, Argentina. The Barcelona man lost the 2007, 2015 and 2016 Copa America and the 2014 World Cup Finals.
Lionel Messi has often been compared with Diego Maradona as they several similar qualities. While Maradona did not win as many titles as Messi, he is highly regarded for his exploits with Argentina. Maradona famously led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and is still popular with Argentines till this day. On the other hand many Argentines believe Messi care more about Barcelona than his Country. Having reached yet another Copa America final at 34, many believe this could be his last chance to win a trophy with his Country.
Argentina face Brazil in the Copa America 2021 Final on Sunday. Click here to bet on the Final on nairabet.com.
MESSI AND ARGENTINA
Lionel Messi went into this Copa America after a mixed season with Barcelona. He missed out on the La Liga Title and Champions League but won the Copa del Rey. Messi also topped the La Liga scoring charts with 30 goals. Expectations were low coming into the Copa due to Argentina’s shortcomings in previous years. They have however started this year’s competition brightly thanks to Lionel Messi. The Argentine captain led his team to finish top of a group that had Uruguay, Colombia, Chile and Paraguay.
Messi currently leads the goals and assists chart and looks determined to win his first Title with Argentina. “What I want the most is to win a title with the national team,” said Argentina captain Messi said after Tuesday’s 3-2 penalty shootout victory against Colombia in the semifinal.
Argentina will however be facing the strongest rival yet in the Final in the form of Brazil. Not only are Brazil also unbeaten at this tournament, they’ve not lost in any Copa America since 2016. Argentina’s exit at the 2019 Copa America came at the hands of their bitter rivals as well. Needless to say, Messi and his Argentina teammates must be at their best to win Argentina’s first title since 1993.
Lionel Messi has 4 goals and 5 assists at the 2021 Copa America. Click here to bet on Messi to score @ 3.00 odds on NairaBET.
BRAZIL
Defending Champions Brazil are high-flying and full of confidence going into this final. Tite’s men are yet to taste defeat in the competition since they lost to Chile in 2016. History and records favour Brazil as well. The Brazilians have won the tournament everytime they’re the hosts and have won 5 of the last 9 Copa Americas. They are living up to their reputation as the highest ranked South American and 3rd ranked Nation in the World.
One of their biggest sources of inspiration is their star man, Neymar. While he’s regarded as one of their biggest stars, Neymar crucially missed out on Brazil’s 2019 Copa America title winning campaign through injury. The PSG forward is desperate to make amends and win his first title with his Country. Neymar has had a good Copa America with 2 goals and 3 assists, second only to Messi.
Brazil have won every Copa America final they’ve played on home soil. Click here to bet on Brazil to win @ 2.12 odds on NairaBET.
ARGENTINA VS BRAZIL RIVALRY & HEAD TO HEAD
Argentina and Brazil share a fierce bitter rivalry that has been ongoing for 107 years. In that time, they’ve played 111 fiercely contested matches. The 2 Countries are the Giants of South American football always seeking to exert authority over each other. The fixture termed as ‘Superclásico de las Américas’ is often marked with controversy as neither Country wants to lose. While Argentina have won more Copa America Titles (14-9), Brazil have won more World Cup Titles (5-2).
Brazil have however had the upper hand in recent years in the Copa America beating Argentina in the 2004 and 2007 finals. Brazil also beat their rivals in the 2019 quarter-finals on their way to winning the tournament. Head to head records favour Brazil as well. The Samba Boys have beaten Argentina 46 times while losing 40 out of 111 matches. The pair have drawn 25 times.
Expect bookings and controversy whenever Argentina and Brazil face off especially in a Cup final. Click here to bet on at least 1 red card @ 3.90 odds on NairaBET.
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