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Copa America live updates: Messi scores goal, Argentina up 2-0 vs. Canada in semifinal tonight

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Copa America live updates: Messi scores goal, Argentina up 2-0 vs. Canada in semifinal tonight

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The Copa América semifinal between Argentina and Canada is underway tonight, and one side already has an early lead.

Lionel Messi scored early in the second half, Julián Álvarez scored in the 23rd minute, and Argentina leads 2-0 in the second half against Canada during their match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It can be watched on FS1 in English, and Univision/TUDN in Spanish.

Messi, who has been dealing with a recent right leg injury, started the match and finally scored his first goal during the tournament.

Follow along here for live updates from tonight’s Copa America match between Argentina and Canada:

Messi has finally broken through with his first goal during this Copa America, a swing of his left foot right inside the goal area on a crowded sequence in the 51st minute to start the second half.

Credit Enzo Fernández for the assist as Messi tapped it in past the Canadian goalie.

Messi, again, frustrated with his latest shot, a bit rushed and sailing over the net just before halftime.

Messi, scoreless during Copa America, appears restless unless he finds the back of the net. Messi squared up for a shot from his right boot on this sequence, but missed outside the net.

Messi foul or no foul? Argentina 1, Canada 0

Messi was left on his backside, wondering why a referee did not make a foul call in his favor during this sequence. It could have led to a Messi free kick.

Messi delivered a pass to Nicolás Tagliafico, but his shot was blocked by a defender.

Argentina remembers Canada goalie Maxime Crépeau veering off his line in the last match, and have tried a second time to catch him off-guard. Angel Di Maria took this shot, but missed.

Argentina fans celebrate Julián Álvarez’s goal: Argentina 1, Canada 0

Julián Álvarez took a pass from Rodrigo De Paul, got behind a Canadian defender, and set himself again for a shot into the back of the net.

Argentina takes the early lead in the 23rd minute.

Lionel Messi takes his first shot of the game in the 12th minute, but is just right of the near post.

Messi remains scoreless during Copa America, but nice to see him with the proactive attempt.

Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg took his chance with an early shot on goal, but he was wide right.

After the match begin in Argentina’s backfield, Messi’s first touch was a dribble up the right side and a pass to Angel Di Maria, who attempted a cross back to Messi. But the pass was intercepted by Canada defender Derek Cornelius in the second minute.

Yes, Messi will play in his second straight game after returning from a right groin/adductor injury. He’s in the starting lineup tonight.

Argentina and Canada will play at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Argentina) on Tuesday night.

The game will be broadcast by FS1 in English, and Univision/TUDN in Spanish.

HOW TO WATCH: Watch every Copa America game with a subscription to fuboTV

Argentina goalie Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez has a new hairstyle for tonight’s match. Considered the best goalkeeper in the world, Martinez is showy and has no problem psyching out his opponents, especially in penalty shootouts. 

Canadian rapper Drake made waves with his $300,000 bet for Canada to beat Argentina. The bet would win $2.88 million, according to the betting slip Drake posted on his Instagram story before the game.

It’s surreal to imagine how former Barcelona star Lionel Messi posed with 16-year-old Spain phenom Lamine Yamal for these photos when Yamal was just a baby. The photos continued to make the rounds on social media Tuesday as Yamal scored to help Spain beat France 2-1 to reach the Euro finals.

Argentina 2, Canada 0: Argentina’s ability to control possession will create chances for the world champions, and limit Canada’s opportunities at the net. Messi delivers with a goal and an assist, perhaps to Angel Di Maria in a victory. — Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter.

Argentina is a -300 favorite to win, while a draw as +400 odds, and Canada has +900 odds for the upset, according to BETMGM. Keep in mind, these odds are for the 90-minute match, and not any penalty shootout.

Messi, 37, has left the door open about playing in the 2026 World Cup. Here’s what he’s said earlier this year about when he could potentially retire.

“Leo is well. He finished the last game well, and he’ll be part of the game [Tuesday],” Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said Monday during a press conference.

Messi has yet to score a goal during Copa América , and missed a match (June 29 in Miami) due to injury. He has played in two group matches, and in the quarterfinal win over Ecuador last Thursday.

Although Messi has been the catalyst to three of Argentina’s six goals, he has slightly underwhelmed during the tournament hosted in his new home country for the last year since joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

When was the last time Messi scored a goal?

Messi’s last goal came more than a month ago on June 1, during a 3-3 draw with Inter Miami against St. Louis City during the MLS season.

Messi was angered and disappointed after he missed a penalty shot during a game-deciding shootout in the Copa América quarterfinals, but Argentina prevailed 1-1 (4-2 in penalties).

“A lot of anger, a lot of anger,” Messi said of his penalty miss. “I just wanted to touch it and it went high.”

Colombia and Uruguay will play in the other Copa América semifinal Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

The semifinal winners will play in the Copa América 2024 final Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, while the losers play in the Copa América third-place game on Saturday in Charlotte.

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