Lionel Messi becomes Argentina’s all-time top goalscorer in Copa America rout of US

Lionel Messi was too much for the United States to contain.

The five-time world player of the year set up Ezequiel Lavezzi’s opening goal in the third minute, then scored on a free kick to break Argentina’s career scoring record and assisted on the final goal in a 4-0 rout of the US on Tuesday night that put the La Albiceleste into the Copa America final.

“This was the goal when we got here, to play another final and we made it,” Messi said. “We’ve been spectacular from day one and we deserved this.”

After Messi doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with his 55th international goal, his tournament-leading fifth, Gonzalo Higuain quickly ended US comeback hopes when he put the rebound of his initial shot past goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 50th. Higuain scored off a Messi pass in the 86th.

Argentina will seek their first major title since the 1993 Copa – and their first since Messi’s debut in 2005 – when they play Chile or Colombia on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“That’s what we hope and what we want, to finally achieve that,” Messi said. “We deserve it, for all the good work we’ve been doing all these years.”