Lionel Messi beams with pride – despite unwanted record with Cristiano Ronaldo – as Lautaro Martinez offers heartfelt embrace

06/30/2024 08:31 AM

Lionel Messi looked every inch the proud captain as Argentina qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa America.

That’s despite a tough tournament personally where he has failed to score in two games and missed their 2-0 win over Peru due to injury.

Messi played 180 minutes against Canada and Chile, without bothering the scoresheet.

However, in the latter match he was seen getting treatment for a hamstring issue.

"I started the game playing with discomfort, I wasn’t completely loose," Messi said.

“I didn’t feel a sharp pain or anything like that, but it did get stiff. It was hard for me to move freely, and it was a bit uncomfortable.”

Missing the Peru clash means he has failed to score in the group stage of a competition for the fourth time.

He was previously unable to do so in the 2007 and 2011 editions of the Copa America, while he also didn’t at the 2010 World Cup.

What’s different this time is that he’s registered a blank at the same time on-pitch rival Cristiano Ronaldo has delivered zero goals at a major tournament at the same time – an unwanted record for two greats of the game.

The Portugal icon didn’t net against Czechia, Turkey, or Georgia at Euro 2024, despite his nation reaching the knockout stage.

Nonetheless, Messi looked on with delight as Lautaro Martinez was the hero for Argentina in win over Peru.

He scored two fine goals in the game, taking his tournament tally to four.

And after netting one of the strikes Martinez made a beeline for Messi, embracing his nation’s captain.

And the Inter Miami superstar looked on proudly.

The heartfelt moment comes two weeks after Messi handed Martinez a penalty in a friendly against Guatemala.

Still totting up records with every passing game, he opted against a chance for scoring a second to allow Martinez the chance.

The Inter Milan striker drew a blank in their previous friendly with Ecuador but the spot-kick saw him get a confidence-boosting goal.

In the end, both Messi and Martinez finished the Guatemala friendly with two strikes apiece in a 4-1 win.

And the latter still appears keen to show his appreciation for the modern-great – on the pitch and off it as he aims to win Copa America’s Golden Boot this summer.

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