Messi, Copa America: Bets to Try on the Pulga
by Steve Ashfield | by Yunchu Li
The 2024 Copa America tournament gets underway this week. It seems a fitting time for us to publish an article that is dedicated to the brilliant Argentinian Lionel Messi. He's been one of the top players in the world for a long time now, both in his home country and on the world stage. His last two major tournaments have both seen him be a winner after a long wait for success. What can we expect from the Miami striker in the coming weeks? Remember, throughout the tournament you can read our Copa America predictions written by our team of experts.
A second Copa in a row?
We talk a lot about how Messi finally won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, a great achievement for the Argentinian. That 2022 win came a year after he finally won the Copa America tournament with Argentina. There had been an Olympics triumph in 2008 and the Under-20 World Cup three years before that, but the 2021 Copa America win was his first major triumph. We can say that he suffered a lot when playing in the Argentinian jersey.
Indeed, we all remember the defeat at the 2014 World Cup against Germany, but La Pulga and Argentina had also lost three Copa America finals before the 2021 success.in 2007, 2015 and 2016! You will understand therefore why it was such a huge relief when the final whistle sounded against Brazil three years ago,
And, for this Copa America 2024, the big favorite is, for once, Argentina! For Messi's potentially last Copa with the Albiceleste, we expect another big competition from the Pulga, who will try to achieve a Copa America/World Cup/Copa America treble.
Whether among bookmakers in the UK and around the world or in our Copa America 2024 prediction, we see the reigning champions being crowned again. In any case, if you want to bet on Messi during this Copa, this is definitely a bet that you can try! With odds of 2.75 on average among online sports betting sites, there is reason to hope for a great win if the trophy can be retained.
Top scorer in the competition?
Lionel Messi didn't just lift the trophy at the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup. At the last Copa America tournament he was also the top scorer with four goals and voted the best player too! Another eight goals came at the 2022 World Cup, a total only bettered by Kylian Mbappe who scored nine to just beat him.
Mbappe won't be in this tournament of course and we believe that Lionel Messi can again be the Copa America top goal scorer. He's 4.00 at bet365 to do so and looks to be a great bet.
Most Assists?
If this type of bet is not available in long-term format, it would be interesting to bet on each match played by La Pulga during this Copa America 2024. In fact, it is a small novelty bet that is offered by the bookmakers.
And what could be better than trying this type of bet on Lionel Messi who, as we recall, finished as the best passer of the ball in the last edition with 5 assists in 7 matches! The odds are often very interesting for this bet (although they should be a little lower for the Pulga) and, if you want to bet on Lionel Messi during the 2024 Copa, here is one that we advise you to try during tournament.
A Goal and an Assist
Continuing what we have just mentioned with the new types of bets offered by some online sports betting sites. here is another one which promises you very high winnings if it were to be successful. Indeed, you also have the opportunity to bet on a player who will score in a match, plus be a decisive passer and assisting in scoring a goal. You will have understood that for this bet to be successful, a player must score 1 goal and offer 1 assist. Not easy, and this is why the odds offered by bookmakers for this bet are often very high.
But, who better than Lionel Messi to achieve this feat? The Argentine number 10 can do everything, and it is not uncommon to see him score and assist in a match. This was the case against Bolivia and Ecuador for example during the 2021 Copa, but also against Mexico, the Netherlands and Croatia during the 2022 World Cup. So, if you want to bet on Messi during this Copa America 2024 and you want to take risks to try for very profitable winnings, this scorer and assist bet is made for you!
