Messi or no Messi, Argentina has become the team to beat in world soccer

What does life look like for Argentina in the post-Lionel Messi era — whenever that finally happens?

Well, judging by their current run of form things look pretty good for the Albiceleste should the world’s greatest player decide to step down from international competition following Sunday’s Copa America final (8 p.m., Fox, Univision, TUDN) — win or lose.

Highly unlikely, however stranger things have occurred.

What soccer fans have witnessed over the last five years has been the rise of an Argentina team that hasn’t seen a nation be this dominant in world soccer since Spain was the preeminent No. 1 in the mid-2000s.

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Spain, which plays earlier in the day against England in the European final (2 p.m. ET, Fox, Univision), took home the 2010 FIFA World Cup, sandwiched by a pair of European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

Argentina is poised to replicate that success if they can defeat Colombia, after winning the 2021 Copa America and capturing the World Cup in Qatar the following year. It’s been a team that since a loss to Saudi Arabia in the first round of the World Cup has gone unbeaten, as Lionel Scaloni’s men are sitting on an impressive unbeaten streak following the 2-0 semifinal win over Canada.

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What more can Messi do?

As for its fearless leader in Messi, his career has collected just about every award one could capture for club and country.

Now, in a move to Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami FC, he’s become the face of the league and has maintained his level of game in what’s supposed to be considered the twilight of his fabulous career after debuting as a 17-year-old long-haired teen in 2003.

“We all know he’s the greatest player to ever play the game,” said Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch before the Copa America semifinal game against Argentina. “There is worldwide respect for who he is and … I think it’s a privilege to play against a player like him.”

But here’s the thing. Where Messi has been the face of the Argentina for over two decades, the player pool — and specifically this Copa roster, comprised of many of the same players that won the World Cup — is arguably one of the best right now.

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The numbers tell Argentina’s story

Here’s the rundown:

• There are 19 players who have 20-plus appearances for Argentina, with seven players boasting over 50 caps and three players in Messi (186), forward Angel Di Maria (144) and defender Nicolas Otamendi (117) have over 100 appearances.
• Only two players, one of them being Messi don’t play for a club in a top European league — the other being backup goalkeeper Franco Armani, who is the goalkeeper for River Plate, one of the top clubs in Argentina.
• Argentina which had an average age of 27.9 in the World Cup, got a bit older in this Copa run to the final with an average age of 28.3.
• The appearance of Argentina in its semifinal match against Canada was the eighth time since 1993 the the nation has been at the brink of a championship and now, its second straight appearance after that 2-0 win.

In the end, Messi or no Messi, this is an Argentina team with enough talent to continue on a run of international success. heading into the next FIFA World Cup back which will also take place on American soil alongside Canada and Mexico in 2026.

And though it might be a final hurrah following 2026 as this current corps will only get older, but it’s a ride that has put Argentina on the map as the world’s No. 1, a spot that probably won’t change — even if they come up short against Colombia.