Lautaro Martínez scored from a rebound in the 88th minute to give defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi a 1-0 win over Chile on Tuesday evening, guaranteeing a place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America.
Messi’s corner led to a shot blocked by Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, and Martínez was on hand to score his second goal of the tournament from Argentina’s 21st shot of the match. Players waited for three minutes as the goal, Martínez’s 26th for his country, was confirmed by a video review.
A day after his 37th birthday, Messi regularly showed off his talent as he slalomed through defenders in front of an adoring sell-out crowd of 81,106 at the MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup final. Argentina had 21 shots to Chile’s three and Chile did not get their first attempt on target until the 72nd minute.
Messi came closest to scoring in front of Martínez’s goal with a 30-yard shot that flew off the post in the 36th minute. Messi needed almost two minutes of treatment on his right thigh after being tripped by Gabriel Suazo in the 24th. Nicolás González’s shot from another pass by Messi in the 62nd was parried off the crossbar by Bravo.
Chile had a dangerous period towards the end of the match. Rodrigo Echeverría’s effort in the 72nd minute was saved by Emiliano Martínez, and the goalkeeper was forced into a diving save after Echeverría’s shot in the 76th.
On the 46th anniversary of Argentina winning their first World Cup, the teams returned to the stadium where Chile defeated Argentina on penalties in the 2016 Copa América final. That defeat prompted Messi to announce his international retirement, but seven weeks later his decision was reversed.
The vast majority of fans at MetLife on Tuesday wore Argentina jerseys, most with Messi’s name and No. 10.
In Tuesday’s other match, Jonathan David scored in the 74th minute, and Canada defeated Peru 1-0 for its first victory over a South American opponent in 24 years.
Peru were the better team until they were forced to play a man shortly after Miguel Araujo was shown a red card in the 59th minute for a stud-up tackle on Jacob Shaffelburg.
It was Canada’s first win in four games under Jesse Marsch, the American hired as coach last month, and they beat a South American team for the first time since a 2-0 victory over Colombia in the 2000 Gold Cup final.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Marsch said his side “talked about wanting to make a big statement, wanting to make history and wanting to show that we were ready for bigger challenges.”
He continued: “In the end, with the wisdom of Peru, with the experience of Peru, to manage the whole game properly and keep our discipline and not cross the line, not endanger ourselves with bad cards and mistakes, that showed a level of maturity. I’m very happy for them. I’m really proud of them.”
David’s goal, his 27th for Canada, ended the national team’s 391-minute goalless streak. Twenty-six of his goals came in competitive matches.
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The match was stopped in stoppage time of the first half when an assistant referee walking the line on the unshaded part of the stadium collapsed and required medical attention. The match was played in the sweltering Kansas City heat, with temperatures peaking at 32C (90F).
Canada, playing in the Copa América for the first time, recovered from a 2-0 defeat to Argentina, and Peru started with a 0-0 draw against Chile.
David scored from a cross from Shaffelburg. David took two touches and beat goalkeeper Pedro Gallese from close to the penalty spot, sending the ball in via the far post. Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau made a diving save in second-half stoppage time and then punched away a free kick.
“In the first half we challenged Canada more than Argentina challenged them [in the tournament opener],” said Peru coach Jorge Fossati. “And I’m talking about Argentina, the current world champion. We created more chances than against Chile. I think I can honestly say we put on a great 60-minute match.”
Argentina leads Group A with six points, followed by Canada with three, and Chile and Peru with one each. The Albiceleste close out the first round against Peru in Miami Gardens on Saturday, while Canada takes on Chile in Orlando.