HOUSTON, Texas — Lionel Messi
shifted his eyes to his right and saw Gonzalo Higuain
talking to journalists further down the long mixed-zone line at the NRG Stadium. If he timed it right, he could leave the
Argentinian television reporters he was speaking to, evade the ones speaking to
Higuain and get onto the team coach.
But the Napoli striker, whom he had set
up for the final goal in Argentina’s 4-0 crushing of the United States, left,
and Messi was the last Argentina player to make
his way out. So he rushed past the written-press journalists, stopping only to
sign one American reporter’s programme.
"Asking for autographs or personal photos will result in the loss of
your documentation," read warning signs taped to the barrier of the mixed
zone that divides players from journalists, but this guy did not care. Maybe it
was the end of his tournament anyway, or perhaps he just had to capitalise on
the rare, precious moment of Messi being in
his city.
He wasn’t collared for it, although Messi later was, speaking once more to reporters at the
end of the mixed zone before he could leave. Someone he knew called out to him,
and that was it, he was sucked in.
Messi is a shy character, but there was plenty
to talk about on a night in which he inspired Argentina as they reached another
major final—their third in three years.
His free-kick—a stupendous, rasping effort that seemed to defy gravity as it
lashed its way into Brad Guzan’s top-left corner,
the side of the goal he was protecting—was Argentina’s second goal of the night
and sent them well on their way to reaching the Copa
America Centenario final.
It was also the 55th of his international career, a number that makes
him Argentina’s all-time top scorer, after he equalled Gabriel Batistuta’s record with his goal against Venezuela in
the quarter-final.
Back in the mixed zone, asked about taking over from Batigol,
Messi replied: “I am pleased. I have to thank the
team-mates with whom I've played. The record is thanks to them.”
The Barcelona No. 10 was, as he often is in public, being extremely modest. Messi had not only scored that sumptuous free-kick, but
he also created the first goal for Ezequiel Lavezzi
with a gorgeous lobbed pass which left Guzan and
his defence confounded. He also set up Higuain
for his second goal to round off the rout.
“I'm happy for what we've achieved,” he continued. “From the first day we
did things in a spectacular way, and we deserve to be here, for how we've been
working. I hope that [the final] goes well.”
But the reality of the situation is that it’s up to Messi
whether the final goes fine.
Ahead of the semi-final on Tuesday, United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said
there were ways to limit the Ballon d’Or holder.
"It's now Lionel Messi's time," he
explained. "When I had the chance to play many games against Maradona, it was Maradona's
time. We all admire these types of players, but there are also ways to stop
them. There are ways to play against these wonderful players."
The last time they won anything of real note was in 1993, when they lifted
the Copa America by beating Mexico, with Batistuta notching both goals in their 2-1 win.
Against Germany, Messi created some openings,
but his team-mates—most notably Higuain—spurned them. The Barca star also had an effort that flew past the
post in the Maracana, one of few opportunities in
a gritty game.
Despite their eventual defeat, Messi was given
the player of the tournament award, which many complained about. However,
while James Rodriguez, who had an excellent World Cup campaign with Colombia,
may have deserved it, the Argentinian had a high-quality tournament by his
standards, and a sublime one by anybody else's.
A year later, at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Messi
struggled to pull Argentina towards victory against Copa
America hosts Chile.
With Chile determined to win their first Copa
America title, Messi was shackled by an
aggressive and persistent La Roja. At some
points, there were up to five men hounding him. One crunching Gary Medel challenge that landed on the 28-year-old's
midriff lingers in the memory.
He failed to have a single shot in 90 minutes, despite arriving at the final
having had more efforts at goal than any other player.
Messi still created a good chance, releasing Lavezzi in the box, but the move came to nothing. He
scored in the penalty shootout, but Higuain
failed, as did Ever Banega, and Chile won.
Another chance has come along, not by luck, but by hard work. Messi has been astounding at this tournament after
making his way back from injury.
In a pre-tournament friendly against Honduras,
he took a knee to the back and was forced to sit out his country’s first game—a
repeat of last year’s final—and this time Argentina won 2-1.
He returned against Panama as a substitute, scoring a brilliant 19-minute
hat-trick and creating a goal for Sergio Aguero,
driving Argentina from 1-0 up to 5-0 winners.
That was followed by an entertaining 45 minutes from the bench against
Bolivia, in which he wowed the crowd with skills, including a nutmeg on the
opposition goalkeeper, though he did not find the net himself.
He started his first game against Venezuela, a match in which he laid on two
goals as well as scoring one, just as he did against the U.S. in the
semi-final.
On Sunday, Chile will have to make their main job trying to stop Messi from damaging them. He is the biggest threat La Albiceleste have.
If they can muzzle Messi, the No. 10 will hope
that the other attacking stars like Aguero, Higuain and Angel Di Maria, who was on the substitutes'
bench after wound on Tuesday night, will be able to capitalise on the space
left behind.
That did not happen in Rio de Janeiro or Santiago, but Gerardo Martino’s Argentina
seem more prepared this year, more streetwise.
Even though Lavezzi and Augusto Fernandez were
injured against the U.S., Argentina are still expected to win in New Jersey. If
they do, there is little doubt over the identity of the man who will inspire
that triumph.