USA 2016 Final: The Night Messi Missed

Leo Messi’s legacy was expected to have been sealed with victory over Chile in the final of USA 2016.

The one that silenced the doubters, that killed off the question mark hanging over his greatness, that gave him his place in the pantheon next to Diego Maradona and showed he could achieve the same success with Argentina that has become so staggeringly routine at club level. Instead, it became The Night Messi Missed.

Goalless after 120 minutes, a game that during the first half looked on course to be decided by over-zealous officiating, instead had to be settled by penalties. This wasn’t the first time the stomach-churning lottery of spot kicks has been needed to separate Argentina and Chile.

With Chile shooting first in the spot kicks, Sergio Romero’s thwarting of Arturo Vidal’s first kick, handed Argentina the early advantage. Then a calm and ticless Messi stepped forward, after a game in which he’d been consistently excellent but struggled to apply the finishing touch, destiny surely awaited. He took his kick, but blasted high over the bar and into the stands. Clearly agonized, once again at an international tournament, Messi had missed.

Francisco Silva, brought on late during extra-time for Sánchez, proved a perfect proxy for the hero of the 2015 shootout. He shot hard; Romero dived the wrong way; the Copa became Chile’s once again.

USA 2016 Final: The Night Messi Missed