What awaits Messi and the Argentina team in 2024?

Messi and Argentina continued their historic 2022 World Cup triumph by performing impressively in 2023 with 9 wins in 10 matches (losing only 1 to Uruguay with a score of 0-2). Coach Lionel Scaloni's team ended the year in the No. 1 position in the FIFA rankings, topping the South American qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup.

Messi and Argentina are under pressure to successfully defend their Copa America title.

"However, to repeat this in 2024 is a tough challenge. The Argentine team and the famous player Messi are both under great pressure to maintain their current success. In particular, they are highly appreciated for their ability to successfully defend the Copa America championship (taking place in the US from June 20 to July 14), in the context of the rival team Brazil has declined and still does not have a new coach. This is an opportunity, but also a challenge that is not easy to overcome," AS (Spain) assessed.

The goal of defending the Copa America title is also a premise for the Argentina team to maintain stability with coach Lionel Scaloni and the famous player Messi will play until the 2026 World Cup.

During the upcoming FIFA Days in March, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) will host two friendly matches to kick off their new journey in 2024, with one match against Nigeria and the other awaiting a confirmed opponent.

At the 2024 Copa America, the defending champion Argentina is seeded number 1 and was drawn into Group A, which is considered favorable with weaker opponents such as Peru, Chile and the winner of the CONCACAF play-off match in March between Canada or Trinidad & Tobago.

The winner of either Canada or Trinidad & Tobago will also play Argentina in the opening match of the 2024 Copa America on June 20 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. In the remaining two group stage matches, Argentina will face Chile on June 25 and Peru on June 29. If Argentina reaches the final (July 14), they could face either Uruguay or Brazil.

Messi will have to balance his national team and club duties in 2024

After the 2024 Copa America, Argentina's goal is to continue to maintain its position at the top of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America, and will resume play from September with matches against Chile and Colombia. In October, Argentina will meet Venezuela and Bolivia, and in November, they will meet Paraguay and Peru.

"In addition to the goal of continuing to maintain the current success of the Argentina national team, famous player Messi also has to focus on the MLS (US) season with Inter Miami Club starting in February.

This is the season Messi wants to have the most complete playing for Inter Miami, but he may have to find a way to reconcile his duties with the team and the club. MLS does not take a break during FIFA Days. Therefore, the challenge for Messi is quite big, and the famous player will also turn 37 in June, so maintaining the interests and success between the club and the team is absolutely not easy," AS expressed.

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