LIONEL MESSI led Argentina to the Copa America semi-finals thanks to another masterful performance against Ecuador – and extended his free-kick goalscoring record over Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi had already set up the other two when he scored a stunner in stoppage time to bring the Albiceleste just one step away from the final.
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Lionel Scaloni’s men dominated throughout the encounter at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico Stadium, especially in the first half where they created a raft of goalscoring opportunities.
The Argentines came close to opening the scoring on 14 minutes when Lautaro Martinez got the ball inside the box and flicked it over Hernan Galindez before producing a volley that was blocked by Robert Arboleda.
Then captain Messi picked up a horrendous loose ball by El Tri’s defence and failed to beat Galindez when his one-on-one effort bounced back off the left-hand post after 23 minutes.
But Argentina finally got the goal five minutes before half-time when Galindez clashed with Nicolas Gonzalez on the edge of the box and that allowed Messi to set Rodrigo de Paul up in front of an open goal.
Gonzalez then failed to beat the Ecuador goalkeeper twice from close range, first with a header and then with a shot that forced a couple of incredible saves, after 45 minutes.
Gustavo Alfaro’s men had a couple of chances to get on the score sheet as well.
First with Enner Valencia and Angel Mena who failed to get a touch in front of the open goal following a crisp cross from the left in the 38th minute.
Then ex-West Ham striker Valencia failed to equalise when Mena crossed him the ball from the right flank as his poor header went out for a goal kick.
Argentina sealed their safe passage in the second half when Piero Hincapie lost the ball at the back before Messi set Martinez up in front of Galindez and the Inter Milan star made no mistake on 84 minutes.
The Albiceleste thought they would then score from the penalty spot when the referee believed Hincapie brought Angel Di Maria down inside the box.
However, VAR showed that the challenge took place at the edge of the area and thus the defender was sent off before the official awarded Argentina a free-kick.
That is when unemployed Messi fired his brilliant curling shot into the top corner in the third minute of stoppage time to seal another triumph for Scaloni’s side and 76th international goal in a record 149 caps.
It was his 58th career direct free-kick – his previous one coming earlier in the Copa America – taking him two clear of rival Ronaldo and placing him just four short of hero Diego Maradona.
But that tally, which includes 50 for Barcelona and eight for his national team, leaves Messi 19 short of Brazilian Juninho’s all-time record of 77.
Argentina are now set to face Colombia in the semi-finals next week after Reinaldo Rueda’s men eliminated Uruguay on penalties.
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