Lionel Messi dedicates his achievement of becoming Argentina's highest goalscorer to his teammates after their 4-0 rout of USA in semi-final
Lionel Messi
Houston: Lionel Messi became Argentina's all-time record goalscorer as the two-time world champions outclassed the United States 4-0 to reach the Copa America Centenario final here Tuesday.
Lionel Messi
Messi curled in a magnificent 32nd-minute free-kick to take his total to 55 goals as the United States' campaign ended with an emphatic defeat in front of a 70,858 crowd at Houston's NRG Stadium.
The five-time world player of the year now has five goals in this Copa America as he aims to lead Argentina to their first major title in 23 years.
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The Barcelona superstar also created Argentina's opening goal for Ezequiel Lavezzi and was involved in the build-up for their third, scored by Gonzalo Higuain in the 50th minute.
Argentina's Lionel Messi scores a goal from a free kick against United States in Houston on Tuesday. Pics/AFP
Messi then laid on the pass for Higuain's second four minutes from time. "We've been playing well from day one and we deserve to be in the final," said a delighted Messi, dedicating his goals tally to the work of his teammates.
"I'm happy to have the record, and I'm happy to play with the teammates that have made it possible. I owe it to them," said Messi, who is now one clear of Gabriel Batistuta's mark of 54 goals.
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann, meanwhile, said his team had showed Argentina "too much respect" after a display which saw them finish with zero shots on or off target.
A fan touches Lionel Messi's feet prior to the start of the second half of Argentina's Copa America clash against US on Tuesday
Argentina will now face either Chile or Colombia in Sunday's final at East Rutherford, New Jersey — their third major final in three years after reaching the finals of the 2015 Copa America and 2014 World Cup.
Disastrous start for US
A disastrous start for the United States saw the hosts fall behind after only three minutes when they gifted possession to Messi on the edge of the area. The Argentina captain instantly spotted that Lavezzi was unmarked and lofted a first time pass through to the China-based midfielder to head home.
Messi was again on the prowl in the 14th minute, seizing upon another American mistake to burst clear from near halfway before firing a shot which Brad Guzan managed to gather safely.
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