Lionel Messi in awe as Argentina back in Copa América final - ESPN

Lionel Messi said he was left in awe after Argentina and some of its remaining «old guard» defeated Canada 2-0 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to qualify for the 2024 Copa América final.

Messi scored his first goal at this year's Copa and the 14th of his career in the second half to double the lead Julián Álvarez staked Argentina to with his first-half strike.

«What this team has done, what the Argentina national team has done, because after this everyone gives more importance to all the finals that me and the 'older guys' have played,» Messi said after the match. «Me, Fide [Angel Di María], Ota [Nicolás Otamendi], and that Argentina can play another final is amazing.

»To be honest it has been a difficult tournament, the level has been as equal as ever, very bad surfaces, high temperatures that make it hard to play, very tough rivals. So the fact we made it and we are here again playing a final is something to enjoy and highlight."

La Albiceleste returns to the final game of the tournament for the second consecutive time, after featuring in the 2021 edition, and stands on the brink of winning the country's 16th Copa América title — which would pull them ahead of Uruguay for the most all time.

Manager Lionel Scaloni expressed excitement over reaching this point of the competition, before warning of the difficulties that lie ahead for Argentina.

«It's something to be proud of and grateful to the players for,» Scaloni said. «Yesterday, a colleague asked me if we normalize this, but the question was good and I wasn't clear. It's super difficult to be in a final, especially coming in the way we did with previous success and triumph. It's double as hard.

»The ones on the inside know how difficult it is to