Lionel Messi's performance in Argentina's dramatic Copa America quarterfinal win against Ecuador has come under heavy scrutiny from Argentine media. The 37-year-old superstar received a lowly 5/10 rating from La Nacion newspaper for his underwhelming display, which included a missed penalty kick.
While Argentina ultimately emerged victorious on penalties after a 1-1 draw, Messi's contribution throughout the match was deemed far below his usual standards. Notably absent were his trademark dribbling skills, and he only managed to create a single scoring opportunity for his teammates. Additionally, he squandered a golden chance to score himself and lost possession battles on three out of five occasions.
This lackluster performance resulted in Messi receiving the lowest score on the Argentina team according to La Nacion's reader ratings. With an average of 5.16, only 21% of users gave him a passing grade, with the majority opting for scores of 4 or 5.
In stark contrast, Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was hailed as the hero of the match. He saved two crucial penalties in the shootout and made a key save during regulation time, earning him a perfect 10 score from La Nacion and the Man of the Match award from Copa America organizers.
Messi's struggles continue a worrying trend, mirroring Cristiano Ronaldo's lack of goals at Euro 2024. Despite playing in three matches and creating 12 opportunities for his teammates, including an assist, Messi has yet to find the net in this year's Copa America.
With Argentina progressing to the semifinals, the pressure is on for Messi to rediscover his scoring touch and lead his team to Copa America glory.
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