That's why he's Argentina's captain, Messi reveals what he told Enzo Fernandez after taking away his goal

Lionel Messi scored in Argentina's 2-0 win against Canada in the Copa America semifinal last night. It wasn't a free kick or an amazing dribbling run, but a slight deflection from a shot taken by Enzo Fernandez. In the 51st minute, Messi scored the second goal for Argentina, which sealed the win and advanced to the final of the Copa America. Messi's goal was one of the strangest ones he had ever scored throughout his career, and he explained how it happened, making sure to clarify that he did not mean to take the goal away from the Chelsea midfielder. Messi said, "I told Enzo that it wasn't my intention to take the goal away from him. I saw that the goalkeeper had just fallen and the ball was coming slowly. I deflected it a little because the goalkeeper almost saved it away from me, too. The important thing is that it counted, and we were able to make it 2-0, which gave us peace of mind." That was Messi's first goal in the Copa America this summer. Now, Argentina will play in another major international tournament final under Lionel Scaloni, the third one in a row.

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Messi also spoke about how special it was to reach another final with Argentina, mostly for Angel Di Maria, who will retire from the national team after the Copa America final on Sunday. Messi said, "The same thing I said, we know these are final battles. Fide (Di Maria) already said it was his last Copa America and that it was ending for him. Honestly, it's an extra joy that he can retire in a Copa America final."

Messi continued talking about the win and said, "Hopefully, it can turn out well, as he has been deciding in the last finals, and he can say goodbye with one more title. But beyond that, we have to be proud of everything this group has achieved. Despite everything, we keep competing, and it’s not easy to come back and win again after where we came from, to keep trying."

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Angel Di Maria on leaving the Argentina national team

Di Maria spoke after the 2-0 win against Canada in the Copa America semifinals and said, "I'm not ready for my last game with the national team, but it's time. Whatever happens in the final, I think I can leave through the front door—I gave everything."