‘Argentina were better WITHOUT Lionel Messi!’ 👀 Copa America final reaction | ESPN FC

The Futbol Americas crew react to Argentina’s 1-0 extra time win over Colombia to secure their 16th Copa America title.

[outc_ast]

Messi has been singlehandedly carrying Argentina in major tournaments for as long as I can remember.
I think it was about time his teammates returned the favour

[StephenJames-xk]

Argentina would not have won a single title if it were not for Messi . They all fight to win for him, that’s the difference. He is their leader. I just think people jump on Messi and criticism him continually despite his achievements throughout his career. I hate people sometimes. He’s 37, obviously he’s slower. But it’s his presence around the team that now matters. He gives them confidence, strength and motivation to win 🐐🇦🇷 messi the best ever. Stop criticising him he is eternal

[udaisrai]

Messi was not at his full best mainly because of injury since his match against Equador.
That Lautaro Martinez scores and comes to hug Messi says it all .. what Messi is to the team !!!!

[cyprax_o]

Messi's presence on the field is more than motivation for fellow teammates

[Waluigi-vrqz]

This was not Messis Best tournament at all. But he was also injured the whole tournament. Another thing is his pressence which makes Argentina want it even more.

[jiwanlama]

Stop disrespecting Argentina like that. Back to back three major international tournaments? It’s freakin’ Four! Finallissima counts! It’s like a UEFA super cup where two winning teams from two different tournaments meet for the ultimate prize. Geez.

[politicallyincorrect]

What a disgusting title. Messi kept millions of people awake ⏰️ people want to see him. Messi is eternal.

[hitachi]

Every Argentinian players won the final for the tears dropped from Messi's eyes.
It is impossible for them to lose this game if it is for Di maria's last game.
how can they possibly lose? they will win it for Di maria and Messi and they did.

[dinosutra]

Martinez won Copa America, Seri A, Italian Cup all by being the tournament's top scorer. He's now favourite for the Ballon D'or. No other contender is close.

[enohpius]

Ale was just too harsh on Messi. He's been carrying his team and doesn't take credit when he doesn't deserve it.
Let's not be too fast to condemn Messi. He's still the GOAT.

[TUTANKHAMUN]

LOL Espn has nothing else to do but find ways to make sure they use Messi Negative. This guy kept shouting before WC and was silent for 1 month. Now he is Barking again😂😂

[Zagirus]

*Mad fangirls:* B-bu-but FIFA rigged it for Argentina DURRRR

Yeah CONMEBOL and FIFA were rolling out the red carpet for Argentina during the Copa. That’s why they suspended Argentina’s manager Scaloni for the match against Peru just because Argentina was late returning for the second half. Because when you're secretly rooting for a team, obviously you start by disciplining their manager, right?

And let's not forget the crowning moment of favoritism: Messi getting hacked by Chile’s defender Gabriel Suazo, ending up injured. What happened then? Oh nothing, because Suazo didn’t even get a yellow card. Talk about showing love to FIFA’s so-called "golden boy"! What kind of pro-Argentina referee fails to penalize the player responsible for injuring Argentina’s main player and captain? I guess FIFA had a brief lapse in memory about their supposed fondness for Messi, nearly costing Argentina the Final against Colombia as their playmaker was forced out in the second half.

But wait, there's more! Ecuador was given a penalty in the quarterfinals and their tying goal in the 90th minute was allowed after a VAR check. I thought VAR was supposed to be on Argentina’s side? So, let’s get this straight: FIFA wanted Argentina to win so badly that they generously gift Ecuador a penalty when Argentina was only leading by one goal? A perfect technique to risk Argentina going out in the penalty shootouts, just like the two Copa Finals against Chile. And not to mention, Ecuador’s tying goal happened during stoppage time, almost leading to Argentina's exit, again why did the supposedly pro-Argentina VAR allow this?

And in the final against Colombia, a blatant handball by a Colombian defender during a cross was left unaddressed, igniting Scaloni's ire. Where was the famed "Argentina always gets penalties" fairy tale then? Shouldn't FIFA, in their supposedly pro-Argentina wisdom, have handed over a penalty on a silver platter to pave Argentina's way and avoid a dreaded shootout scenario? Whatever happened to the overplayed "Penalty for Argentina"? If those were even remotely true, how come Argentina didn’t receive a single penalty throughout the entire Copa America tournament?

Of course, who could forget Argentina’s first goal in this final being ruled as offside. It was clearly offside, but I thought VAR or FIFA was supposed to be rooting for Argentina? Why did they disallow their goals as offside, just like in the 2022 World Cup against Saudi Arabia, where three of their goals were nullified for offside, culminating in an embarrassing loss to Saudi Arabia?

Because nothing screams "rigged" like perpetually putting the supposedly favored team on the verge of elimination. Truly, a masterful, galaxy-brain strategy for "rigging" a tournament.

So yeah, if FIFA were trying to hand Copa America to Argentina, they sure have a funny way of showing it. Almost as if Argentina simply won through skill and determination, rather than some elaborate plan. But hey, never let reality get in the way of a good coping mechanism. Keep seething!

[shashanks]

Messi was the only reason why Argentina could reach so many Finals in recent years..He was the sole reason so many people stayed awake to watch the game and Copa America..
Please don't underestimate him like this..now he is 37, he will be a little slower..
Just one day, he got injured(Serious, if the pain had been tolerable he would never be subbed)
We are glad for Argentina but more for our GOAT Messi..🎉❤
Em Martinez, L Martinez, Di Maria, Otamendi, and everyone else were obviously very good too..🎉❤

[elcampeon]

Argentina are never better without Messi because they play for him. Emi Martinez has said in interviews that he had a bigger desire to see Messi win the World Cup than to win it himself. These players grew up watching and idolizing Messi and they want to see him achieve what he couldn’t in the past. He is the reason that Argentina play as hard and motivated as they do.

[harisasif]

Whether he's on the field or not, he is the driving force behind all the success this team has achieved. When Martinez scored he ran towards Messi along with others which tells you what he means to them, the Goat of football keeps adding to his collection

[KAT-xiol]

And I don't understand these analyst talking about Colombia had like 3 chances when Messi was on the field. Is that his fault? Last I checked he is no defender.

[techniciansinc]

Argentina last thier first 3 finals with Messi. Now they're winning all with him. Football is unpredictably beautiful. Messi did so much for Argentina and the players. This team will die for him. That's the difference when a leader is humble and not driven by selfish ego.

[ShahAlam-qsvv]

The departure of Messi may be motivated the team to pay him back what he did for them.

[edwisongogo]

For that 50 min, yes Argentina was def better than when Messi was on, thats a fact, however they couldnt win the tournament from start to finish without him...thats a fact too. I get the strategic video title tho.

[marikamarika]

Still, 37 years of age, won everything, and still not enough for underachieved, jealous”pundits”.
Both team struggled, Columbia didn’t have subs until the end. When they were made, it was clear that their qualityhas dropped.
Argentina knows how take advantage of this kinda situations .
But please can you forgive him that he got injured ? Because the matter of what they say about him, he’s not alien. He’s a human. He completed his duty for Argentina.