Alphonso Davies Eyeing Fourth Win Against Lionel Messi As Canada Joins Argentina’s Copa America Group

Last night, Canada beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 to earn a spot in the 2024 Copa America, and they will be facing the Lionel Messi-led Argentina in the opener on June 20. Well, an Argentina-Canada clash is nothing like an Argentina-Brazil game. But it brings together an idolizer and his idol! Yes, Alphonso Davies is facing his icon, Messi, once again. All eyes have turned their way whenever the two faced each other in UEFA Champions League games. Fans got intensely dramatic moments. Davies has had the better of Messi thrice, but he thinks playing for the country is a “different animal.”

“They’re a top team. We just have to prepare for the occasion and just have fun with it,” Alphonso Davies told CBS Sports. Later, he was quizzed about his 3-game unbeaten record against Lionel Messi and whether he would make it a 4th win against him by beating Argentina. “I’m happy to play against one of the best—the best player in the world and be able to win with my team. It’s a team effort, it’s not a one-on-one competition. But overall playing for your country is a different animal, and they just won the World Cup so they have all the confidence in the world.” The Copa opener in Atlanta will be the first time Argentina will face Canada in a competitive match.

The last time the two played together was in 2010 in an international friendly, when Diego Maradona coached Lionel Messi and Co. Argentina humiliated Canada with a 5-0 scoreline. Notably, this is also Canada’s maiden appearance at the Copa America. While Messi and Davies lace up for their first-ever international faceoff, let’s see how their club games have panned out.

Alphonso Davies vs Lionel Messi: What do the stats say?

It was a highly forgetful night for Lionel Messi when he first faced Alphonso Davies. Back in 2020, FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich battled in a single-leg UCL QF. Bayern tore its opponents into shreds, beating them with a 2-8 scoreline! The Argentine misfired that night, whereas Davies fired up Bayern’s attack through the left flank, consistently outpacing the Catalan club’s defenders. The Canadian badly wanted to swap shirts with his idol, La Pulga that night. However, he later revealed that Messi was too upset at the shocking defeat to swap shirts.

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Anyhow, Davies finally had his moment of swapping shirts with the 8x Ballon d’Or winner. The two met again in the 2022-23 UCL Ro16 in a Bayern-PSG tie. Davies’ side beat Messi and Co. in the 1st leg at home and the duo exchanged jerseys that night. In a later revelation, the Canadian defender said he framed the La Pulga t-shirt! Then in the 2nd leg, Davies’ side beat Messi and Co, as PSG lost 2-0.

Do you think he’ll do it again? Tell us in the comments.

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