Three ways Messi has proven superhuman at Copa America

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  • Lionel Messi

    Lionel Messi has often been criticised for not delivering on the biggest stage for his country, but at this year’s Copa America the Argentine has showcased his phenomenal talent.

    The 28 year-old has lit up the continental competition in the 71 collective minutes he’s spent on the pitch and here’s how the Argentine has taken centre stage despite missing the first act and being resigned to a role off the bench.

    TESTING PREPARATION

    Messi’s preparation ahead of the tournament was far from ideal. Just five days after Barcelona’s Copa del Rey triumph over Sevilla, he was with the national squad for a friendly against Honduras during which he picked up an injury.

    He then jetted back to Spain for the opening of his trial for tax fraud before returning to the Argentina camp for the first group game against Chile where he was an unused substitute in his side’s 2-1 win.

    For any other player, the trying circumstances would almost certainly have resulted in a poor showing, but Lionel Messi isn’t just any other player, is he?

    A STELLAR INTRODUCTION

    It doesn’t matter who you support, if Messi is in town you want to watch the best player on the planet strut his stuff. The crowd in Chicago, Illinois for Argentina’s clash with Panama were no different.

    Even as Messi watched on from the bench, an eager audience bellowed his name from the stands as they urged Albiceleste coach Gerardo Martino to introduce the star attraction.

    They were granted their wish just after the hour-mark and the cameo appearance that followed has arguably been the highlight of the tournament so far. Any concerns over his fitness, and therefore effectiveness, were dispelled with three goals in a glorious 19-minute spell.

    A rather careless giveaway by Panama saw the ball ricochet off Gonzalo Higuain and into Messi’s path who beat the keeper with ease for his first. Ten minutes later Messi doubled his tally, curling a trademark free-kick into the top right corner.

    He wasn’t done yet though, Messi completing his hat-trick with three minutes to play as he took the defender out of the equation by cutting on to his left foot and slotting past the keeper.

    NOT YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL IMPACT SUB

    There’s no denying that Messi’s very presence on the pitch gives his team a lift. Argentina, with a slender 1-0 lead, were in front against Panama but by no means comfortable before the Barcelona star’s introduction, the game lacking in real quality.

    All that changed once Messi arrived. He instantly provided a spark that ignited the contest and, well, you know the rest.

    And while he wasn’t on the score sheet in the final group game against Bolivia, an offside flag denied what would’ve been a quiet sensational goal for the diminutive forward.

    His run was a fraction too early and he was marginally offside as he went clean through before audaciously nutmegging the keeper before lining up the finish. That little snippet of play was another example of the different dimension Messi brings to the game.

    Argentina take on Venezuela in the quarter-finals on Saturday and while the encounter is an intriguing one for a variety of reasons, the very prospect of being treated to a fully-recuperated Messi performance alone will have audiences on the edge of their seats.

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