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Lionel Messi’s stats from Argentina win vs Ecuador in the Copa America emerge and have got fans talking

Home> Football> Football News

Published 10:04 5 Jul 2024 GMT+1

Lionel Messi’s stats from Argentina win vs Ecuador in the Copa America emerge and have got fans talking

Lionel Messi's Argentina progressed to the Copa America semi-finals but it wasn't his best display.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Lionel Messi's stats from Argentina's Copa America quarter final win over Ecuador have emerged and they have got people talking.

The reigning South American and world champions were victorious on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Lisandro Martinez put Lionel Scaloni's side ahead in the 35th minute but Kevin Rodriguez scored a last-gasp equaliser to take the game to spot-kicks.

As he often is for La Albiceleste, Emiliano Martinez proved to be the hero yet again and saved two penalties.

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The Aston Villa shotstopper spared the blushes of captain and talisman Messi, who attempted a 'Panenka' penalty but chipped the ball over the crossbar.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was not at his best in the game and was surprisingly not as involved as he would be usually.

And his stats tell the story of how Messi struggled at the NRG Stadium.

According to SofaScore, Messi had just one shot on target and only attempted a single dribble - an extremely low tally for the Inter Miami superstar.

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Image: Sofascore
Image: Sofascore

Messi is said to have lost possession on nine occasions and only had 33 touches in the game, as well as 20 out of 25 passes completed.

And his lack of participation surprised many fans on social media.

One wrote: "Surely this is the lowest amount of touches Messi has ever had over 90 minutes?"

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Another said: "Oh had a stinker Buh still drop 2 key passes. Exact reason why they’re different."

A third added: "Worst game of Messi so far. He has aged."

Another person concluded: "Him and Ronaldo need to pack it up at international level.

A fifth made the point: "Most obvious case of playing through injury I've ever seen."

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Messi has been struggling with injury but says he was free of pain for the quarter final.

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

He said: "[After the game against Chile] I was suffering from pain and fear of injury, but in the last training I felt better and felt that I could participate, I told Scaloni that I was fine and I was no longer feeling any muscle discomfort.

"I was very angry because I was convinced to take it that way if the opportunity arose. I had talked with Dibu and Rulli in advance."

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Argentina will play either Venezuela or Canada in the semi finals on Wednesday.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Colombia

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

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@joshlawless_

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  • Lionel Messi completely messes up Panenka penalty during Argentina's shootout against Ecuador
  • Ecuador goalkeeper's immediate reaction to Lionel Messi's penalty miss has left fans shocked
  • Lionel Messi misses penalty as Argentina advances to Copa America semis after dramatic penalty shootout
  • Sergio Aguero names the three players who will replace Lionel Messi as Argentina's 'leaders' when he's gone

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