COPA AMERICA CUP 2016
LIONEL MESSI BIDS A GOODBYE TO INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL.
LIONEL MESSI BIDS A GOODBYE TO INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL. 27.06.2016 : It was the third consecutive defeat at a major international tournament for Messi and his teammates After the heartbreaking Copa final loss to Chile in Tiebreaker 4-2 where Biglia and Messi Missed the penalty shot. The Argentine Mega Star Lionel Messi shocked the footballing world by announcing his retirement from international football in the press interview. ...........Messi's Argentina and Barcelona team-mate, Javier Mascherano, also announced he had played his last game for the national side and there were reports Aguero was also calling time on his international career............

Messi just celebrated his 29th birthday on June 24th said "The national team is over for me. It’s been four finals. It’s not for me, “Unfortunately I tried for it and it’s what I wanted the most. It didn’t happen but I think that’s it.” Argentine goalkeeper Romero said he hoped Messi would change his mind. “I think Leo spoke in the heat of the moment because we missed that great chance,” 

TOURNAMENT             Matches  Goals

Friendlies      	39      27
World Cup		15       5
World Cup Qualifier	37	15
Copa America       	22	 8
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Total caps / goals:    113	55
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MESSI MILESTONE INTERNATIONAL GOALS 

1   01-03-2006 Croatia 	  2-3 - LOST (Friendly)	 
5   08-07-2007 Peru    	  4-0 - WIN (COPA AMERICA) 
10  11-10-2008 Uruguay 	  2-1 - WIN (W.C. QLF)	 
15  17-11-2010 Brazil     1-0 - WIN (FRIENDLY)
25  08-06-2012 Brazil	  4-3 -(HATTRICK-FRIENDLY) 
30  12-10-2012 Uruguay	  3-0 - WIN (W.C. QLF)	  
35  14-06-2013 Guatemala  4-0 -(HATTRICK-FRIENDLY) 
40  21-06-2014 Iran       1-0 - WIN (WORLD CUP)	  
45  12-11-2014 Croatia    2-1 - WIN (FRIENDLY)
50  29-03-2016 Bolivia    2-0 - WIN (W.C. QLF)
55  21-06-2016 USA        4-0 - WIN (COPA CENTENARY)
Argentina have not won a major senior title since the 1993 Copa America. Messi, winner of four Champions League titles and eight Spanish La Liga crowns with Barcelona and won under-20 and Olympic (under-23) titles with Argentina scoring 453 competitive goals in 531 games, including a La Liga-record 312.

MESSI YEAR WISE INTERNATIONAL GOALS 

Year 	Apps 	Goals
2005 	5 	0
2006 	7 	2
2007 	14 	6
2008 	8 	2
2009 	10 	3
2010 	10 	2
2011 	13 	4
2012 	9 	12
2013 	7 	6
2014 	14 	8
2015 	8 	4
2016 	8 	6
Total 	113 	55

* Led Argentina to the title at the 2005 World Youth Championship, scoring two penalties in a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final.

* Made his debut for the senior side in a friendly against Hungary in August 2005 but was sent off less than a minute after coming on as a substitute for elbowing an opponent who had pulled his shirt.

* was in the squad of 2006 World Cup. Argentina were knocked out in the quarter-finals lost to Germany in tie breaker.

* Led Argentina to the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

* Player of Argentina under coaching of Diego Maradona at the 2010 World Cup that was beaten 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals.

Captain of Argentina of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they lost 1-0 to Germany in final.

* Played Copa America final for Argentina in Chile in 2015, lost in the final in tie breaker.

CHILLE : CHAMPIONS OF COPA CENTENARY CUP 2016

26.06.2016 : ARGENTINA 0-0, 2-4(pen) CHILE (FT)

ARG : Romero, Rojo, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Mercado, Banega, Mascherano, Biglia, Messi, Higuain, Di Maria

CHL :Bravo, Beausejour, Medel, Jara, Isla, Vidal, Aranguiz, Diaz, Fuenzalida, Sanchez, Vargas

LIONEL MESSI BIDS A GOODBYE TO INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL.

The Argentine captain Lionel Messi declares his retirement from international football. The superstar of World football declares at Newyork after the final of Copa Centenary tournament.

5: CHILE - .. Silva - GOAL.4-2
4': ARG - Biglia - SAVED. 3-2
4: CHILE - .. Beaesejeur - GOAL.3-2
3': ARG - Augero SHOT - GOAL. 2-2
3: CHILE - .. Aranguíz SHOT - GOAL.2-1
2': ARG - Mascherano - GOAL. 1-1
2': CHILE - .. Castilo - GOAL.1-0
1': ARG - Messi - MISSED.
1. CHILE - Vidal SHOT - SAVED .

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120':0-0. NOW WILL GO FOR TIE-BREAKER.
114: Messi free kick went to corner.
107': SCORE LINE 0-0 . 10 men Chile and Argentina.
45': 5 minutes added time.
100': Free kick of Messi header by Augero and brilliant save of Bravo for corner.
98': What a save of Romero, A sure goal missed by Chili for Romero.
91': Extra Time Starts. 0-0.

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90+3': END OF SCHEDULE TIME. 0-0 SCORE LINE. NOW TO EXTRA TIME.
90+1': sancez missed a close chance, unable to push a left sided pass.
90': 3 minute added time.
83': Close miss of Augero from a pass of Messi.
73': Corner to Chile. No score. 0-0 still
63': Corner to Argentina from a Messi attack. Otamendi header went out from corner.
57': CHANGE - ARG : Matías Kranevitter in and di Maria out.
52': YELLOW CARD TO Beausejour OF CHILE
46': STARTS OF 2ND HALF.
HT : SCORE LINE 0-0 . 10 men Chile and Argentina.
45': 5 minutes added time.
0': STATS 43': BOTH ARGENTINA AND CHILE NOW WITH 10 MEN IN THE FIELD.
42': RED CARD --- RED CARD -- RED CARD - ROJO OF ARGENTINA Fouled VIDAL
40: 0-0
40': YELLOW CARD - MESSI of Argentina
36': YELLOW CARD - Mascherano of Argentina
34': STAT : Overall, Argentina are victorious in 12 of the 20 matches played between the sides, with Chile winning 4 and another 4 ended in draws.
30': CHILE down to 10 Men.
28': RED CARD --- RED CARD -- RED CARD - DIAZ WITH 2nd YELLOW Fouled Messi Again.
25': 0-0
21': WHAT A MISS - ARGENTINA. GOALLINE SAVE OF MEDAL.Higuain is gifted a free run at Bravo CATCHED A MISS PASS.
18': Sunchez got a free ball in Argentina box but well cleared .
15':Free Kick to Argentina. Bravo catched Messi's shot.
15': YELLOW CARD - DIAZ OF CHILE Fouled Messi when he moved.
STAT : Messi scored 5 goals and 4 assists in 261 minutes. Means goal every 29 minutes.
12': 0-0
5': No score from free kick of Messi.
4': Isla fouled Maria in left side corner flag. Foul and free kickto Argentina.
1': Match starts.

0': STATS : Argentina and Chile battle will be the historic 100th Copa America final game on Sunday, June 26.

0': STATS : Messi later netted his 55th goal for his country, breaking the all-time goal scoring record for Argentina.

0': STATS : Argentina beat Chile in their opening game of the Copa America Centenario 2-0. Angel Di María and ever Banega scored while Jose Pedro Fuenzalida score for Chile where Messi not played in the Game.

. 0': STATS : Argentina reached in the Final of Copa Tournaments 4th time in the last five Copa America tournaments. Argentina failed to reach the final in 2011 when it hosted the tournament but went out from quarter-final.

0': STATS : Argentina lost just one of its last 11 Copa America knockout matches on goals scored. Three of its four defeats in that time came via penalties.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MESSI - “If football is Christianity, then today is Christmas”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MESSI ADHIRAJ DUTTA - 24.06.2016 : This is the quote that is doing the rounds on the social media today, because 29 years ago, this footballer turned magician was born. One of the best things ever to happen to the beautiful game of football, Lionel Messi celebrates his 29th birthday today.

Being diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the tender age of 10, Messi and his family was told that he would never make it big in world football because of his inferior physique. He gave his first trial at Barcelona in September 2001 and almost 15 years have passed since that day and people who had said that he would not become a top flight footballer, let alone being world-class, certainly had made the biggest blunder of their lives, as far as judgement is concerned.

After making his debut in 2004, Leo has made 642 senior appearances for both club and country and has been directly involved in a staggering 718 goals - 507 goals and 211 assists. Thousands of records have been broken ever since the introduction of the Atomic Flea in world football- the most recent being Messi becoming Argentina’s all time highest goal-scorer, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta’s 54 goals, a record that stood for 14 years.

A winner of 5 Ballon d’Ors, Messi has also won 29 trophies. However except for a 2008 Olympics gold medal, he has not won anything for Argentina and had come closest when Argentina finished runners-up in 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America respectively. However, come Sunday (early Monday morning in India), Messi will have another opportunity to add his first major trophy with La Albiceleste as they take on Chile in a repeat of the 2015 Copa America final.

ARGENTINA REACH IN THE FINAL OF COPA CENTENARY 2016 TO BEAT USA

22.06.2016 : ARGENTINA 4-0 USA ( FT.)
ARG : Lavezzi 3', Messi 32', Higuain 50', 86'

ARG : Romero; Mercado, Otamendi, Funes Mori, Rojo; Augusto, Mascherano, Banega; Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi

USA : Guzan; Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Zusi, Beckerman, Bradley, Zardes; Dempsey, Wondolowski.


FT : Argentina reach in the Final crashed USA by a 4-0.

90': 3 minutes stoppage time.

88': -------- Despite missing the first match, Messi scored 5 goals. Gonzalo Higuain scored 4 and Erik Lamela scored 2 for Argentina out of 18 goals so far. MESSI SCORED HIS 55TH INTERNATIONAL GOAL FOR ARGENTINA TO OVERTAKE BATISTUTA.

86': GOOOOOAAALL : 4-0 to Argentina. 2nd hoal of Higuain from Messi's pass.

84': USA. and Argentina have met twice in the COPA history. In their first Copa America meeting in 1995, the U.S.A won 3-0. ( Scorers - Frank Klopas, Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda). In 2007, Argentina won over USA 4-1.

82': Argentina is leading 3-0.

65': 1ST CORNER TO USA. sot of Bradley went to Romero.

60': CHANGE : Biglia replaces Fernandez - ARG. Birnbaum comes on for Beckerman - USA.

. 50': GOALLLLLLLLLLL 3-0 to Argentina. Higuain scored from a long pass from behind. his first shot saved by Keeper and deflected and finally finish by Higuain in his 2nd attempts..

46': 2nd half starts.

HT: ARGENTINA IS LEADING 2-0.

45': 1 mint added time .

34': 5th goal of Messi in this Copa and 55th for argentina to overtake Batistuta.

32': GOOOAAALLL : 2-0 to Argentina. Messi scored from free kick. what a shot from 25 yards.

30': Yellow card to USA. Messi was fouled when he moved towards USA box. Free Kick to argentina and Messi to take.

25': ARGENTINA IS LEADING 1-0.

21': Another free kick to argentina. Missed the target.

18': Free kick to argentina. It’s taken quickly by Mascherano, but intercepted by a USA player.

7': USA win a free kick. Michael Bradley shot no score.

3': GOOOAAALLL : 1-0 to argentina. Lavezzi scored from corner kick.

0': Last they met on 26 March 2011 in the International Friendly Match and its draw with the result of 1-1. Juan Agudelo for USA and Esteban Cambiasso scored goal in that 1-1 draw.

0': Both Argentina and USA are face to each other on the 10 Times where USA won 2 games and Argentina won 6 times and remaining 2 matches result drew.

0': The Number 1 FIFA rank team – Argentina reached semis defeating Venezuela 4-1 in the quarter final match.

0': USA vs. Argentina: The most important game in American men's soccer history.

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11.06.2016 : ARGENTINA 5-0 PANAMA (FT..)
ARG : Otamendi 30', Messi 68', 78', 87', Auguero 89'

ARG : Romero, Mercado, Rojo, Funes Mori, Otamendi, Mascherano, Fernandez, Mascherano, Banega, Gaitan, Higuain.

PAN : Penedo, Machado, Baloy, Miller, Henriquez, Gomez, Godoy, Pimentel, Quintero, Cooper, Perez.

FT : Match end. Argentina win 5-0 over Panama. IN THE FIRST EVER MATCH AGAINST PANAMA ON 20TH MAY 2009 ARGENTINA WON 3-1 IN FRIENDLY.
89': GOAAAAAALLLLLLL 5-0. Auguero Scored his 33rd International goal.
87': GOAAAAAALLLLLLL 4-0. Hattrick of Messi within 25 minutes. Scored similar to his first one.
85': Argentina is leading 4-0 over 10 men Panama
78': GOAAAAAALLLLLLL 3-0. 2nd goal of Messi from a free kick.
78': GOAAAAAALLLLLLL 3-0. 2nd goal of Messi from a free kick.
68': GOAAAAALLLLL 2-0 to Argentina. Messi scored.
62': CHANGE - ARG : Lionel Messi is on! in place of Augusto Fernandez.
55': 1-0 for Argentina.
HT : 1-0 to Argentina.
45': 2 minutes added time.
30': RED CARD! (Godoy PANAMA)
7': GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 1-0 to Argentina. Otamendi scored a 40 yeards goal from a free kick.

After winning their first game against defending Champions Chile 2-1 without Messi, Argentina to face 82th FIFA ranking team Panana in their 2nd game. Will Messi play in the Match? The big question coming into this game depends on Lionel Messi’s health.

The five-time world player of the year Messi missed the Chili - Argentina opening game with a injury in back. But Messi expected to be played in his ever first competitive Football in the soil os USA as Coach Gerardo Martino said. the coach expressed in a news conference on Friday that he could see no drawbacks to playing him.
In their first game against Chile Benfica star Nicalo Gaital played in place of Messi and he played well with Angel Di Maria on the left and Gonzalo Higuain leading the line against chile.