Everything about Lionel Messi’s free kick goal in Argentina’s 4-0 drubbing of the U.S. in the Copa America semifinals felt inevitable.
From Chris Wondolowski’s sloppy foul that set it up, to the shot’s perfect curving arc that buried it in the top right corner, when Messi stepped up to take the free kick in the 32nd minute—and paused to tie his shoes as the wall shuffled nervously—it was as if the ball’s fate had already been assigned. But somehow that didn’t make it any less special.
No. 10’s rocket sailed over U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan and dipped mere centimeters under the crossbar, putting the Albiceleste ahead 2-0. It also put Messi ahead of Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time leading goal scorer. Argentina then went on to score two second-half goals, courtesy of Gonzalo Higuaín.
The U.S. struggled to possess the ball, and even with the substitutions of 17-year-old Christian Pulisic for a floundering Wondolowski and Darlington Nagbe for Clint Dempsey, the U.S. had few real chances to get on the board. It was a poor showing for the U.S. team that was missing three of its pillars in Alejandro Bedoya, Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood, but considering the loss was handed to them by the world’s best team, led by the world’s best player, it’s hard to muster more than mild disappointment. Plus, we got to watch Messi work his magic, and that has to count for something.
