When is Lionel Messi playing next at Copa America 2024? Knockout schedule for Argentina matches

07-10-2024
6 min read
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Argentina arrived at the Copa America 2024 not only as world champion, but also as the champion of the last edition of this competition, won in 2021 on Brazilian soil. 

Lionel Scaloni's team, in what will be Angel Di Maria's farewell, will seek to repeat the title won three years ago at the Maracana.

But the star attraction — as always — is Lionel Messi. Revered by many as the greatest player of his generation, Messi is competing on his new home soil, as the Inter Miami star swaps club football for the search for more international honors.

Here is everything you need to know about Messi and Argentina in the Copa America 2024.

MORE: Copa America full schedule of matches and updated results for 2024

When is Lionel Messi playing next at Copa America 2024? Schedule of Argentina's matches

Having made it safely through their group as winners and then beaten Ecuador and Canada in the quarterfinals and semifinals, Messi and Co. are now into the final of the tournament.

Knockout stage

Quarterfinals

Date Match Venue
July 4 QF1: Argentina 1-1 Ecuador (pens 4-2)  NRG Stadium
(Houston)

Semifinals

Date Match Venue
July 9 Argentina 2-0 Canada MetLife Stadium
(East Rutherford)

Final

Scroll to Continue with Content
Date Match Venue
July 14 Argentina vs. Uruguay/Colombia Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)

MORE: Lionel Messi record at Copa America - matches played and titles won

Will Lionel Messi retire from Argentina after Copa America 2024?

The best player in the world and, for many, the most outstanding in all of history, Messi has fulfilled his great dream by winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the culmination of a journey that included the title in the Copa America 2021 and the Finalissima against Italy shortly before the World Cup.

It seemed that after winning everything that a footballer can achieve, he would at least retire from the national team. However, as he himself said, he chose to stay to enjoy the party after so much suffering, and he quickly guaranteed his presence at the 2024 Copa America.

Whether this is his last tournament on the major stage remains to be seen. 

Argentina coach: Lionel Scaloni

From being a temporary replacement for Jorge Sampaoli to a confirmed interim and, then, winner of everything that a national team coach could achieve, Scaloni has become a national hero in Argentina. 

Without previous experience, he broke the curse of 28 years without titles for the Argentine senior national team, and formed a team that went almost 40 games without losing and won the 2022 World Cup. 

Despite all that, he has been engaged in a tense relationship with the president of the Argentina FA, Claudio Tapia, and so his presence in charge for the 2026 World Cup, for which the Albiceleste are well placed to qualify, is not guaranteed. However, at least he has made it to the continental American event. An entire country has demanded it.

MORE: Brazil vs. Argentina rivalry at Copa America - head-to-head record and stats

Argentina's record and history in Copa America: Titles won

The Argentine national team has won the Copa America 15 times, being the country with the most titles, along with Uruguay. Below is their record in the tournament:

Year Host Result
1916 Argentina Runner-up
1917 Uruguay Runner-up
1919 Brazil Third place
1920 Chile Runner-up
1921 Argentina Winners
1922 Brazil Fourth place
1923 Uruguay Runner-up
1924 Uruguay Runner-up
1925 Argentina Winners
1926 Chile Runner-up
1927 Peru Winners
1929 Argentina Winners
1935 Peru Runner-up
1937 Argentina Winners
1941 Chile Winners
1942 Uruguay Runner-up
1945 Chile Winners
1946 Argentina Winners
1947 Ecuador Winners
1955 Chile Winners
1956 Uruguay Third place
1957 Peru Winners
1959 Argentina Winners
1959 Ecuador Runner-up
1963 Bolivia Third-place
1967 Uruguay Runner-up
1975 Various Group stage
1979 Various Group stage
1983 Various Group stage
1987 Argentina Fourth place
1989 Brazil Third place
1991 Chile Winners
1993 Ecuador Winners
1995 Uruguay Quarterfinal
1997 Bolivia Quarterfinal
1999 Paraguay Quarterfinal
2004 Peru Runner-up
2007 Venezuela Runner-up
2011 Argentina Quarterfinal
2015 Chile Runner-up
2016 USA Runner-up
2019 Brazil Third place
2021 Brazil Winners