Argentina Edges Past Chile 1-0, Reaches Copa America Quarterfinals

In the 88th minute, Lionel Messi and the reigning champion Argentina defeated Chile 1-0 thanks to a rebound goal from Lautaro Martinez, securing a trip to the Copa America quarterfinals.

Goalie Claudio Bravo blocked a shot from Messi's corner kick, and Martínez scored Argentina's second goal of the tournament with their twenty-first shot of the game.

After three minutes, the players stood and waited for a video review to affirm Martínez's 26th goal for his country.

Group A leader Argentina has six points, ahead of Canada (six), Chile (one), and Peru (one). On Saturday, Canada takes on Chile in Orlando, Florida, while the Albiceleste wrap up their first-round match against Peru at Miami Gardens, Florida.

A day after turning 37, Messi often showed off his ability to twirl around and slalom past opponents in front of an enthralled sellout audience of 81,106 at MetLife Stadium, the location of the 2026 World Cup final. Argentina won 11-0 in corner kicks and 21-3 in shots. and it wasn't until the 72nd minute that Chile made their first try.

In the 36th minute, Messi went closest to scoring before Martínez did, with a 30-yard attempt that shaved off Bravo's left post. After Messi was kicked by Gabriel Suazo in the 24th, he was treated for over two minutes in the thigh region of his right leg.

Bravo deflected Nicolas Gonzalez's attempt off the crossbar after Messi passed again in the 62nd minute.

Argentina led 17-0 over Chile before Emiliano Martínez stopped Rodrigo Echeverría's effort in the 72nd minute after a turnover. In the 76th minute, the goalkeeper again produced a diving stop against Echeverría.

The teams went back to the arena where Chile defeated Argentina in the 2016 Copa America final on penalty kicks, 46 years after Argentina's first World Cup victory. Messi announced his retirement from international competition following that loss, but he changed his mind seven weeks later.

The majority of the fans, at least 90% of them, had Messi's name and number 10 on their Argentina shirts.

Bravo made his 150th international appearance with eight saves, becoming him the oldest player in Copa America history at 41. As they led their sides onto the field for the national anthems, he and Messi, the former Barcelona teammates, conversed with one another.

A grass field, planted behind one goal at a stadium where artificial turf is usually used, had a few little brown patches behind it. The building was planned to provide a broader field for the World Cup, but the surface was narrow.

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