- In the final of 2016 CONMEBOL Copa América Centenario™, against Chile, number 10 experienced one of his most difficult days with the national team.
- In the same stadium, against the same opponent, he will seek to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
June 26, 2016, was one of the saddest days in Lionel Messi's career: he played his third final in three years with the Argentine national team, and once again, the result was a defeat.
Messi missed his penalty in the shootout, and Chile, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, was crowned the CONMEBOL Copa América™ champion for the second time.
The Rosario native admitted feeling tired and announced his retirement from the Argentine national team, only to return a few months later.
Almost eight years later, on June 25, 2024, Lionel Messi will face Chile again at MetLife Stadium, once more in the CONMEBOL Copa América™.
The tough times are behind him, and number 10 not only got over the hump in the world's oldest national team tournament but also won the Final and the World Cup.
He’s never lost a final with the Argentine national team again.
From the Argentine team that played in the 2016 final, two battle-hardened teammates remain for Messi: Nicolás Otamendi and Ángel di María. On the Chilean side,
Claudio Bravo, Mauricio Isla, Alexis Sánchez, and Eduardo Vargas were champions eight years ago and could play again on Tuesday.
Before the final against Chile, Messi had played once at MetLife Stadium with Argentina. It was the day of his hat-trick against Brazil in a 4-3 friendly win in 2012.
With powerful memories for the Argentine number 10, MetLife is gearing up for a real first-round thriller: it will be on Tuesday the 25th, in Group A, starting at 9 PM local time (10 PM in Argentina/Chile).
