La Serena, Chile - Lionel Messi will play his 100th match for Argentina on Saturday against Jamaica in the Copa America but it will be a century marked by too many tears and no titles.
"I'm very happy to reach this record. Hopefully I can celebrate another victory and once and for all lift a cup," the Barcelona striker said in an interview published on Thursday by Argentinian daily La Nacion.
Messi, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and the rest of the Argentina squad have been sent across the Andes on a mission to end 22 years without a major title since the country won the Copa America in 1993.
His extraordinary debut against Hungary on August 17, 2005 set the scene for an international career in total contrast to his success as a Barcelona player which has seen him win four world player of the year awards, four Champions League titles, seven Spanish league titles and three Copas del Rey.
The 18-year-old Messi came on as a second-half substitute against Hungary and a minute later was marching off again after getting a red card for elbowing opposing defender Vilmos Vanczak.
Team-mates went into the dressing room at the end and found Messi crying in a corner, Argetinian media reported at the time.
AFP
