Rio de Janeiro: Former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and Neymar will face each other in the Copa America final on Saturday who wants to end the hoodoo which also affects some of their country’s biggest players.
Like Pele and Diego Brazil Maradona from Argentina in front of them, there is no Messi or Neymar who ever won the Copa.
The statistics will change for one of them in the dream final at the Maracana Stadium Iconica Rio de Janeiro.
For six times the Ballon d’Or Winner Messi, this will be the fourth Copa final and maybe his last chance to finish on the side of the victory.
¿De Quién será? ?argentina ?? o Brazil ?? Advolgarán Su Nombre Al Hermoso Trofeo de la Conmebol # Copaamérica …
https://t.co/VhnFXFBhul- Copa América (@Copaamerica) 1625794200000He’s prominent performer, as usual, scored four goals and Make five more – tournament leaders in both categories.
But at 34, this might be the last Copa and the World Cup next year could be his last major international tournament at all.
So far, the final only led to disappointment for Messi lost in 2007, 2015 and 2016 in the Copa, and saw his team defeated 1-0 by Germany at the 2014 World Cup.
Some believers won something with Argentina was the only professional goal of Messi.
Tocando El Cielo ??quiel la Alcanzará? ????tocando o Céu ?quem A Alcançará? ???? # vibraelconte …
https://t.co/4i9canqv63- Copa América (@copaamerica) 1625793300000 “We will try to stop it achieving this goal,” said Marquinhos Brazil Center-back Brazil.
“As much as Messi, we also have players who deserve this title …
like ‘Ney’ ourselves that are not there for the last Copa,” he added.
At the age of 29, Neymar had a little more time by his side but he was injured and missed two years ago when Brazil won their ninth title on the ground, beat Peru 3-1 in the final.
Nas alturas ?o trofé da conmebol # copaamérica faz homenagem ao rio de janeiro, a nadade maravilhosa ?✨essa bell …
https://t.co/8WhzDWTGGC- Copa América (@Copaamerica) 1625792409000TIP and two superstars that line up the side Contrary to Saturday, this is a classic match between the two heavy-class worlds.
“We will play the final against our eternal rival, which is a lifetime, two of the most powerful national teams in South America and we hope …
it will be a great match,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
“Brazil versus Argentina is far more than just a simple football game …
This shirt makes the world stand still to watch their match.
It represents the history of Brazil-Argentina,” Marquinhos added.
Extraordinary, both parties are not even the two most successful in the history of the Copa, with Uruguay have won 15 degrees 14 and nine Brazil Argentina.
In what the 47th edition of the Copa, this was also only the fourth time both of them met in the final, with Argentina crashing into the first time in 1937 and Brazil came out above in 2004 and 2007.
And it was faced with each other more than 100 times in their history.
They have so far been the strongest two sides of the competition, even if Argentina drives their success touches in their semi-final penalty victory in Colombia.
The two teams impressive for their strength in depth.
In their semi-final victory over Peru – and even though Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus was suspended – Brazil left people like Liverpool Roberto Firmino, Flamengo Hot-shot Gabriel Barbosa and Real Madrid Starlet Vinicius Junior on Semai bench.
In midfield, Liverpool’s Fabinho was held by Fred Beagurgent, Manchester United.
Likewise, Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria – bright spark when he came in the semifinals against Colombia – mostly started in a bench while New Barcelona signed Sergio Aguero almost did not see Argentina.
Messi and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez (three goals) have given Argentina’s main attack attacks but they have quality and creativity throughout.
“Argentina is not only Lautaro and Messi, we cannot only concentrate on both,” said Brazil and Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro.
“They are great players, world-class players, but if Argentina has reached the final because of the group (overall), we must respect this.” And looking to end the drought trophy of his career with Argentina, Messi can make history in another way on Saturday.
He currently sits 76 goals for Argentina, one record of South American Pele from 77 national team goals.