Argentina show they're prepared for life without Lionel Messi in Copa América final

Argentina's 2024 Copa América title made Lionel Scaloni's side the second national team in men's soccer history to win three straight major international tournaments, joining 2008-2012 Spain. Albiceleste's 1-0 extra-time triumph over Colombia in Sunday's Copa América final was made even more impressive because Argentina did so mostly without Lionel Messi, who tearfully exited midway through the second half due to a right ankle injury.

It shows that Argentina is much more than just its legendary captain, as Maurice Edu said on "FOX Soccer NOW."

"To do it with this man on the sideline, to go through this tournament with a Messi not at his best because of injury a Messi only scoring one goal in the [entire tournament], this is where you give credit to the other players that don't wear a No. 10 shirt and have ‘Messi' on the back of the jersey, because in big moments throughout this tournament, they had to step up and make plays," Edu said.

"[Goalkeeper] Emi Martinez, you go back to the penalty kick shootout and his influence on the team. There's so many other players we could list, but Lautaro Martinez gets the goal tonight. … It bodes well for the future"

Whether that future will include the 37-year-old Messi is unclear. He previously implied he would like to continue with the team and has not definitively ruled out playing in the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, when he will be 39 years old. 

However, it will definitely not include one of Messi's closest friends and longtime running mate on the wings — Ángel Di María, who played his final game for Argentina on Sunday. Young teammates Garnacho and Nicolás González (who replaced Messi when the captain was subbed off Sunday) are waiting for their turn, as "FOX Soccer NOW"'s Jimmy