With goals from Julián Álvarez and Lionel Messi, who scored for the first time in this edition of the Copa América, La Scaloneta won with total authority and secured a place in the final. The opponent in the decisive match will be either Colombia or Uruguay.

The Argentine national team defeated Canada 2-0 this Tuesday with goals from Julián Álvarez and Lionel Messi, becoming the first finalist of the Copa América. Argentina will seek its fourth consecutive title on Sunday in Miami, led by Messi, following their victories in the Copa América in Brazil against the local team in 2021, the intercontinental "finalissima" with a thrashing of European champions Italy, and the Qatar World Cup triumph against France in 2022.

In the final of the continental tournament, the Albiceleste will face the winner of the match between Uruguay and Colombia, which will be played on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Canada will play for third place on Saturday at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte against the loser of the other semifinal.

In the match played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Argentina controlled the ball, though with some difficulties at the start to advance on the field against an organized opponent that pressed in midfield and relied on direct play.

After the first few minutes with no danger to the goals, the Argentine team came close to opening the scoring in the 11th minute when Messi and Ángel Di María connected, and the Albiceleste captain fired a shot that went just wide. From there, Argentina grew in the game, found spaces in the opponent's field, and scored in the 22nd minute through Álvarez, who slipped between the Canadian defense after a pass from Rodrigo De Paul and finished between goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau's legs.

Di María and Messi connected again in the 43rd minute in a play that ended with a shot from the "Pulga" after a series of feints inside the area. Canada, playing far from the opposing goal, found one of its first chances in the 46th minute through Jonathan David after a defensive lapse by Argentina on a throw-in near the area.

At the start of the second half, Messi deflected a shot from Enzo Fernández, surprising Crépeau and scoring his first goal in the competition to extend the lead in the 51st minute. Argentina let the minutes pass against an opponent that posed little threat to goalkeeper Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez, while coach Lionel Scaloni made substitutions to rest several starters for the final.

The Albiceleste, which is the joint top winner of the Copa América with Uruguay, will go for its sixteenth title in the competition and its second consecutive one (championship).