Will Lionel Messi play at the 2024 Copa America?

Messi-mania has gripped the United States since the GOAT moved to Inter Miami but the question on everybody's lips remains; will he play at the 2024 Copa America this summer?

South America's premier international soccer showdown comes Stateside this summer, with the tournament expanded to also include six CONCACAF nations. The competition will offer the US a serious test on and off the field as they prepare to co-host the 2026 World Cup.

Can we expect to see Messi lead his national team in the United States this summer? Here's the latest on his availability for the 2024 Copa America.

Will Lionel Messi play at 2024 Copa America?

Messi ended his long wait for an international trophy by lifting the 2021 Copa America title and quickly followed it up with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward -- most people's pick for the greatest player of all time and an eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or award -- was 35 years old by the time he finally lifted the World Cup and many wondered if he might bow out of Argentina duty on that high.

But since then, Messi has continued to be a key part of Lionel Scaloni's international side and has even set his sights on playing in the 2026 World Cup. After, of course, their Copa America title defence this summer.

"Today the only thing I think about is getting to the Copa America well and being able to compete in it. Fighting it again like we always did, trying to be champions," Messi said in December.

He added: "Then time will tell if I'm there [at the World Cup] or not. I'm going to arrive at an age [39 years old] that I normally wouldn't be able to play in the World Cup. I said that I don't think I'm going to be there. It seemed that after the World Cup I was retiring and quite the opposite. Now I want to be there more than ever."

Despite a perceived step back by joining Inter Miami, Messi's ability will never be in question. As long as he's available, it's hard to see Scaloni or any future Argentine head coach ever turning him down.

"Only the one who did not come, who already you know [Messi]. The rest, pick and shovel," Scaloni responded recently when asked which Argentina players had confirmed their roster slots for Copa America.

How many times has Lionel Messi won Copa America?

Messi ended his long wait for an international trophy by lifting the Copa America title in Brazil in 2021, even scoring four goals along the way to win the Golden Boot.

Of course, that was the most recent edition of the tournament, meaning Messi has just one Copa America title to his name.

That said, he's suffered plenty of heartbreak in the past, losing three Copa America finals (2007, 2015, 2016) and a World Cup final (2014) before finally tasting international success.

How many goals has Lionel Messi scored at Copa America?

That 2021 Golden Boot was the only time Messi has ever finished as the Copa America top scorer. However, he's done more than his share for Argentina over the years, scoring 13 goals in the competition in total.

That's the fourth-highest number of Copa America goals scored by any player, with only four individuals outscoring him at the competition.

Who will Lionel Messi play at Copa America and what is his route to the final?

Argentina has been drawn in Group A at this summer's Copa America and will face tough opposition in 2015 and 2016 champions Chile, as well as 2019 finalists Peru, and CONCACAF rising stars Canada.

But La Albiceleste is still expected to top the group, arguably with a 100% record. If that's the case, they'll most likely face Ecuador as Group B runners-up, followed by a semifinal date with either Mexico or their own group runner-up.

In the final, it's hard to see past another Argentina vs Brazil showdown, although the USMNT will be doing everything possible to book a dream date with Messi at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

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