Lionel Messi broke a tie with Ali Daei to move second on the list of men’s international scorers with a goal in the Copa America semifinal against Canada.
Messi’s 51st minute strike for Argentina was a 109th for his country, moving him one clear of the legendary Iranian forward. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 130 goals for Portugal, has more in men’s international football.
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The goal, a scruffy effort from close range, is a first for Messi at the 2024 Copa America and a 14th overall in the tournament.
Argentina went on to win the game 2-0 to advance to Sunday’s final in Miami where they will face Colombia or Uruguay.
THERE IT IS FOR MESSI 🇦🇷🔥
After review the goal is confirmed and Argentina takes a 2-0 lead 💪 pic.twitter.com/WBFJnQTtiX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2024
It is not the first record Messi has broken at this edition — he set a new appearance milestone in the opening game, breaking a tie with Chile goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone who had held the mark since 1953.
Messi had tied Daei on the all-time list with two goals in the 4-1 win over Guatemala on the eve of Copa America.
India’s Sunil Chhetri sits fourth on the list with 93 goals with Mokhtar Dahari of Malaysia rounding out the top five with 89 goals.
Canada’s Christine Sinclair holds the all-time record for men and women with 190 goals in 328 international appearances.
Messi has 186 caps for his country, has scored 109 goals and added 56 assists — all Argentine records.
Messi is bidding to win a third tournament as a senior international after following the 2021 Copa America by captaining Argentina to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He also won an Olympic gold medal as an under-23 at the Beijing Games in 2008.
(Eduardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images)
