Argentina (National Football)

World football legend Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60, the Argentine Football Association confirmed Wednesday.  

La Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, a través de su Presidente Claudio Tapia, manifiesta su más profundo dolor por el fallecimiento de nuestra leyenda, Diego Armando Maradona.

Siempre estarás en nuestros corazones 💙 pic.twitter.com/xh6DdfCFed

— AFA (@afa) November 25, 2020

An official cause of death has not been released.

Maradona was hospitalized on November 2 for dehydration and anemia, per Sky Sports. But a day later he was moved to Buenos Aires, where he went into surgery to remove a subdural hematoma, a collection of blood on the surface of the brain. The operation was described as a "routine surgery" by his physician, Leopoldo Luque.

"We are going to operate today," Luque said on November 3. "He is lucid, he understands, he agrees with the intervention."

The Associated Press' Almudena Calatrava and Debora Rey reported that doctors said Maradona came out of the surgery with no complications, and he left the hospital eight days later to recover at home. 

Maradona, who was the manager of Argentinian Primera Division club Gimnasia y Esgrima at the time of his death, is considered one of the greatest soccer players in the history of the sport. He led Argentina to a FIFA World Cup triumph in 1986, a run that included his infamous "Hand of God" goal against England in the quarterfinals, where he used his hand to score a goal.

In that same game, he dribbled through nearly the entirety of England's team before scoring what is considered one of the best goals in the history of the competition.

He scored 34 goals in 91 caps with Argentina, playing in four World Cups. And in 588 total appearances at the club level for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors (two stints), Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, he scored 312 goals. He led Napoli to the club's first and only two Serie A titles.

Off the pitch, however, Maradona had issues with money and struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, and he reportedly had contact with the Camorra, or the Neapolitan mafia, during his time at Napoli, per CNN's Ben Morse, Matias Grez and Cesar Lopez.

After his playing career, he served as the manager for Textil Mandiyu, Racing Club, the Argentina national team, Al-Wasl, Fujairah, Dorados de Sinaloa and Gimnasia y Esgrima. None of those appointments lasted longer than three years.

Edinson Cavani has played down an angry confrontation between himself and Lionel Messi in Uruguay's 2-2 draw with Argentina on Monday.

Argentinian outlet Ole (h/t ESPN FC's Adriana Garcia) reported Cavani had told Messi to "fight it out" after the Barcelona man was brought down by Matias Vecino, to which Messi is said to have replied, "Whenever you want."

The pair are also reported to have continued arguing in the tunnel at half-time, but after the match Cavani told TyC Sports (h/t Garcia):

"It's part of football; Clasicos are like this.

"The truth is that it was at times a game that had friction. There were challenges and things that are part of football—especially of South American [football].

"We take positives from our performance and the fact that we were able to score two goals. We still need to improve, but it's good to end the year like this."

Football writer Simon Harrison suggested Messi's acceptance of Cavani's offer might not have been the wisest move:

Messi offered to fight Cavani? Cavani, the man mountain who lives out in the sticks wearing camouflage and hunting whenever to goes back to Uruguay? Good luck on that one.

— Simon Harrison (@simonhfootball) November 19, 2019

The Argentina captain had an eventful international break.

On Friday, he scored the only goal of the game as La Albiceleste beat rivals Brazil 1-0, and he had a heated exchange with Selecao boss Tite:

🇧🇷 boss Tite: "Messi should have been shown a yellow card and he told me to shut my mouth and I told him to shut his mouth." 🤐 pic.twitter.com/UKRCCw6IB6

— GOAL (@goal) November 16, 2019

On Monday, he provided a last-gasp equaliser for Argentina from the penalty spot after his earlier run-in with Cavani, who also scored:

34' Cavani
63' Aguero
68' Suarez
92' Messi

PEDIGREE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MYOin8uavs

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 19, 2019

Cavani's goal represented a significant milestone in his international career:

Edinson Cavani now has 50 goals for Uruguay 🇺🇾🎯 pic.twitter.com/1i1UnWFM5j

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 18, 2019

Only team-mate Luis Suarez—who is also close friends with Messi at Barcelona—has scored more for La Celeste with 59 goals.

Messi's strike was also a landmark, as it was his 70th for Argentina in 138 games. He's now 16 clear of Gabriel Batistuta, whose international career came to an end in 2002, while Sergio Aguero's goal was his 41st.

In terms of appearances, the 32-year-old needs five more to equal Javier Zanetti and nine more to pull level with Argentina record-holder Javier Mascherano on 147.

When international football resumes in March, Argentina and Uruguay will begin CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with a draw on Dec. 3 set to determine when they'll face one another along the way.

Argentina and Uruguay meet in an international friendly on Monday in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will lock horns for their respective nations at Bloomfield Stadium.

Messi recently completed a three-month international suspension and returned for La Albiceleste against Brazil on Friday in Saudi Arabia, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win.

           

Date: Monday, Nov. 18

Time: 9:15 p.m. local, 7:15 p.m. GMT, 2:15 p.m. ET

TV: beIN Sports (USA)

Stream: beIN Sports CONNECT

Odds: Argentina 11-10, Uruguay 3-1, draw 9-4 (via Oddschecker)

                    

Preview

Messi and Suarez remain two of South America's iconic talents and will be expected to put on a show during their trip to Western Asia.

Israeli football fans with an interest in Barca will get the opportunity to watch two of their heroes in action during an anticipated contest.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed Messi will start the match, as will Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, but he did not reveal his complete XI at a press conference ahead of the game:

Messi and Agüero will play against Uruguay but Scaloni doesn't confirm the rest of the side https://t.co/zwoninfTUX

— GOLAZO (@golazoargentino) November 17, 2019

There were doubts cast the game might not take place due to troubles in the region, but both squads have landed at their destination.

Suarez has continued to lead the line as Barca's striker this season, and has scored six goals in 10 La Liga performances.

The Uruguayan's partnership with Messi remains as productive as ever, with the Argentinian netting eight and providing four assists in the Spanish league.

Matches between the two nations have been close affairs in recent times, and Suarez has scored only once during seven games against Argentina.

Both men should have a stellar supporting cast by their side. Messi will be joined by Manchester City ace Aguero and Juventus forward Paolo Dybala. Suarez is expected to be paired with usual international strike partner Edinson Cavani.

Aguero has struggled to find his best form for the English champions in recent weeks, but has still managed to score nine Premier League goals this term.

Cavani is also out of form in Ligue 1 for Paris Saint-Germain, but he provides the perfect support function for Suarez in a Uruguayan shirt.

Passions are expected to run high between the two nations, as no game between Argentina and Uruguay can ever be truly a friendly encounter. 

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said the "door is always open" for Mauro Icardi to return to the squad following his impressive recent form for Paris Saint-Germain. 

After falling out of favour at Inter Milan, Icardi moved to PSG on loan for the upcoming campaign and he's impressed in the early weeks of the season for his new club.

However, he has not been included in the squad for his country's upcoming matches with Brazil and Uruguay and hasn't represented his national side since a 2-1 win over Mexico a year ago. When asked about the player, Scaloni said there is a chance he could be involved again in the future, per Sam France of Goal:

"He is a player that we have in mind. He is playing again and gathering momentum after not having done so at the end of last season, and it is important that he is scoring goals. 

"He was always on our agenda, but not for the moment because there are others who are doing well. At any time he could return. The door is always open for the best."

Per France, it's previously been reported that Icardi is not the most popular figure among the Argentina squad. The PSG man has a spiky relationship with Crotone's Argentine forward Maxi Lopez, who is said to be a good friend of star man Lionel Messi.

Even so, at the moment Icardi does appear to be doing all he can to get back in contention for the national team. OptaJean noted just how ruthless the 26-year-old can be when chances do come his way:

17 - Mauro Icardi 🇦🇷 has scored one goal every 17 touches in Ligue 1 this season (5 goals with 84 touches), the best rate among players with 2+ goals in the Top 5 European leagues. Efficient. #SB29PSG pic.twitter.com/ETcP1UW8iV

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 9, 2019

The on-loan Inter man has already scored nine goals in 10 PSG appearances this season, with the most recent an 85th-minute winner in the 2-1 victory at Brest:

Mauro Icardi with his fifth Ligue 1 goal of the season to give PSG the win 👏 pic.twitter.com/dmMbcc7vrL

— GOAL (@goal) November 11, 2019

While he's had his issues away from the field, it's extraordinary that a player with Icardi's goalscoring pedigree has only played a total of eight games for the Albiceleste, with his only goal coming in the previous appearance against Mexico.

Icardi was named in Scaloni's preliminary 40-man squad for the Copa America in the summer, although he was cut from the final roster. 

There is clearly a chance for the forward to force his way into international contention though, as he appears set to be PSG's starting centre-forward for the remainder of the season. Per Spanish football writer David Cartlidge, there are currently big doubts over Edinson Cavani's future in Paris:

Cavani is 32 but injury free, has excellent fitness levels and qualities you'd associate with Atleti's style. Could easily get 2-3 very good years from him still. Would be the ultimate signing for Atleti.

— David Cartlidge (@davidjaca) November 14, 2019

Argentina are not lacking depth in the attacking positions, with Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala all named in Scaloni's squad for the upcoming fixtures.

With that in mind, Scaloni's decision to leave Icardi out of the side does not represent a major shock. However, provided the PSG star continues to net on such a frequent basis in France, he will be a difficult man for the coach to ignore.

Lionel Messi has said he would not change anything in his career to be a FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has won 34 major titles with Barcelona, but he has never won a major international tournament with Argentina.

Messi has played in three Copa America finals with La Albiceleste, as well as the 2014 World Cup final against Germany, but he has never been on the winning side.

Despite his international disappointments, though, the 32-year-old has said he would not change anything in his career, per TyC Sports (h/t Goal):

"I would've loved to be a world champion. But I don't think I would change anything else in my career to be one. This is what I was given, what God gave me. It is what it is. I couldn't dream of everything that I experienced after. It was far bigger than anything I could've imagined."

It is not inconceivable Messi could have another chance to become a world champion in 2022 in Qatar.

He briefly retired from international football after 2016's Copa America final, when he missed a penalty in Argentina's shootout defeat to Chile:

Lionel Messi ends his Argentina career as the country’s greatest ever goalscorer. pic.twitter.com/rHCWbGbWIR

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 27, 2016

However, less than two months later he reversed his decision and helped Argentina qualify for Russia 2018, which they were subsequently knocked out of by eventual champions France at the last-16 stage.

Then in the 2019 Copa America back in July, Messi was controversially sent off as Argentina won the third place play-off against Chile:

#TheSquad discuss Lionel Messi's red card in the Copa America

Did Messi deserve to be sent off for Argentina?

Listen again:
📻📲 ⚽️ - https://t.co/0kUniX6SeW#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/8pKNYJdWlO

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) July 7, 2019

He has not played since for his national team after picking up a three-month international ban for saying the "cup was fixed for Brazil" and that the Copa America was "corrupt."

In his absence, Argentina have drawn against Chile and Germany and beaten Mexico and Ecuador in friendlies.

Messi should return for November's fixtures against Brazil and Paraguay.

Argentina suffered an ignominious 3-1 defeat to Venezuela in March at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, thousands of miles from home for both sides. About 20,000 people showed up to watch the game, and it was only the second time in 24 attempts that Venezuela had defeated the two-time FIFA World Cup winners.

Argentina's line-up was full of inexperienced internationals except for one man—their captain, Lionel Messi. Most of the men who soldiered alongside Messi during his international career—like Javier Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain and Martin Demichelis—have retired. The last few hanging on—Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi—sat out the game, as their clubs were reaching the business end of the season.

One wondered why Messi, who was on the verge of turning 32 and had a UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash against Manchester United on the horizon, was bothering to play a nothing friendly. The answer was that he clearly cares. He was rewarded with one moment of promise.

As the game approached the hour mark, Argentina broke forward in a counter-attack. A Venezuela defender made the mistake of heading a clearance into Messi's orbit, and he controlled it on the run by cushioning the ball twice on his chest and then with his right foot. In the same instance that he had to wriggle free from a snapping tackle, he drifted the ball into the path of Giovani Lo Celso, who was haring up alongside him on the left flank, with another touch.

Le Celso then threaded a pass in to Lautaro Martinez, who clipped it first time around Venezuela's onrushing goalkeeper to score. It was a glimpse of Argentina's football future.

Messi, the old hand, is still as lethal as ever, having scored 51 goals in 50 games last season. The 23-year-old Lo Celso is, like Messi, a product of the famous Rosario production line and a key signing by Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham Hotspur during the summer.

Inter Milan's Martinez, 22, has an impressive strike rate for Argentina—eight goals in eight starts this year. Three of those goals came on Tuesday night in an eye-catching 4-0 win over Mexico at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas; Leandro Paredes got the fourth goal.

"Argentina is going through a period of transition, an overhaul of its squad," says Matias Bustos Milla, a journalist with Argentinian newspaper Clarin. "There is a changing of the guard after the retirement of so many of the players who reached the 2014 World Cup final. The squad is full of much younger players now.

"It's what Messi needs because of his age. Messi is not the little kid anymore. The squad needs renewal, fresh legs, younger players who are part of a new wave. Players who bring a dynamism to the team, an energy that can help to support Messi's brilliance."

The squad is not the finished article. Argentina have yet to settle on a convincing goalkeeper. The defence is still ropey, but the appearance of Lo Celso and Paredes—both of whom debuted for the national team in 2017—as anchors in midfield is encouraging.

Paredes, who Paris Saint-Germain signed in January for €40 million excluding add-ons, according to ESPNFC, is a player whom Sam Kelly—Buenos Aires-based founder of the Hand of Pod podcast—singles out as one of Messi's important new lieutenants.    

"One thing Argentina have missed since the 2016 Copa America final [defeat on penalties to Chile] is a commanding presence in midfield, someone at club level who is operating at the very elite in Europe," says Kelly. 

"During the Copa America this summer, Paredes started to [impress], although he was a bit iffy—as was the case with a lot of the team—at the beginning of the tournament. By the end of it, he had really played his way into. It was like he had decided at last that he was going to be Argentina's main man in central midfield.

"One of the positives, for example, that Argentina could take from their 0-0 draw with Chile last weekend was that tandem in midfield between Lo Celso, Paredes and Rodrigo de Paul. Paredes is at the centre of that—he keeps the team ticking over, passing out of defence. He's the biggest leap in quality Argentina have had in that position for the last few years since Javier Mascherano retired."

Messi will be forever haunted by Argentina's loss to Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final in Brazil (and to a lesser extent its near misses in the Copa America finals of 2015 and 2016). He was arguably within a whisker—or specifically a couple of scuffed chances by Higuain and Rodrigo Palacio—from winning football's greatest prize. The manner in which he came so close, dragging an average team through the early stages of the finals, still holds some merit with football fans in Argentina.  

"Fans are still very proud of the team's performance," says Kelly. "It shouldn't go unnoticed that Argentina's 2014 side are the only South American team to reach a World Cup final since Brazil won it in 2002.

"It's a long period now of European domination because of the global economics of football, and the concentration of the world's best talent at top European clubs, who can help their own national teams to have a bunch of players training together week in, week out, in a way South American sides can't enjoy. It was a big achievement for Argentine football in that context. They also look back on it with some frustration: 'How close we were.'"

There were, of course, factors beyond Messi's control in that game. He has an extraordinary ability to bend the ball to his will, but he can't regulate everything in the universe. The element of luck—or bad luck—is something that Fernando Signorini, who worked as a fitness coach with Messi at the 2010 World Cup finals, highlights when it comes to analysing Messi's experiences with his national team. 

"For Messi to win an international trophy is not an obligation. It's a possibility," says Signorini. "Leo played in the World Cup final against Germany and he didn't win it because his team fell a fraction short. Most of the people that demand he must win something for Argentina have not won anything themselves.

"Sport is like this: Athletes compete to win. They give it their best effort. Sometimes another team is superior. Sometimes luck comes into play. Sometimes the inferior team wins despite the actions of the better team. In sport, it's not entirely about the final result.

"Of course it's important for Messi to win an international trophy for his reputation in Argentina, but Messi's case reminds me of Stirling Moss, the Formula 1 driver. He was a champion without a crown, a marvellous driver. Or Johan Cruyff with Holland. He didn't win a World Cup, but people remember him for other moments. For people who truly love football, the only important thing is that we continue to be delighted with Messi's performances, the beauty of his game."

Messi has played 136 times for Argentina. By the time he retires, he'll probably have one of the highest tallies of international appearances for a top-class footballer in history. It seems he might still have another couple of shots at winning an international trophy. Next summer, Argentina will co-host the Copa America finals with Colombia.

Given the relatively small playing pool of countries in South America, Argentina are always among the favourites to win the tournament—although remarkably they haven't managed to do so since 1993. Uruguay have an aging side. Only Brazil have improved since the last FIFA World Cup finals, but they are not unbeatable.

Messi has grown into his role as the team's leader. He's coming out of his shell. He has, for instance, made a couple of stirring pre-season speeches as club captain with Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Many Argentina fans weren't disappointed to see him react angrily to CONMEBOL, the ruling body of South American football, following Argentina's exit from the Copa Americain the summer. His allegations of "corruption" earned him a three-month suspension from international football, meaning he missed this latest round of games, and a $50,000 fine.

Messi has no regrets 🗣️(🎥 @FCBarcelona) https://t.co/SOjU643Fwi

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 4, 2019

"The reputation of Messi varies amongst Argentinian people," says Bustos Milla. "Messi—including his performances in the Copa America last summer—has grown into a leadership style that is more anti-establishment. He's more of a rebel. Messi recently has demonstrated less composure. It has won him plaudits with Argentina's fans. In Argentina, we often like those leaders who are imperfect, passionate, temperamental.

"It's a big desire in Argentina that Messi achieves success with the national team and more so that he does it on home soil next summer in the Copa America. We don't believe that Messi owes us something. It's the other way around—that football and the Argentinian national team owes Messi. It will be amazing if they win the Copa America."

       

Follow Richard on Twitter: @Richard_Fitz

No Lionel Messi, no problem for Argentina.

Even without its best playmaker, Argentina handled Mexico during a commanding 4-0 victory in Tuesday's international friendly at the Alamodome in San Antonio thanks in large part to Lautaro Martinez. Martinez provided the offensive spark without No. 10, scoring a hat trick in the first half and slicing through El Tri's defense with ease.

Leandro Paredes added another goal with a penalty kick, and goalkeeper Esteban Andrada was hardly tested.

https://twitter.com/davisjsn/status/1171617049367515137

Mexico looked nothing like the version of itself that was on display during Friday's 3-0 win over the United States.

Argentina looked quite different than it did in its last game as well, which was a scoreless tie against Chile on Thursday. Argentina struggled to create anything of note in the draw without Messi, who was suspended for three months from international matches after he criticized officiating and accused CONMEBOL of "corruption" during the Copa America, per ESPN.

El Tri took a physical approach against what appeared to be a listless offense coming in and racked up 10 fouls and two yellow cards (Edson Alvarez and Hector Herrera) in the first half alone.

Not looking much like a friendly so far ... #eltrieng #mextour

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) September 11, 2019

The strategy didn't work at all, as Mexico's defense consistently collapsed against Martinez. He beat multiple defenders and opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a left-footed shot after a lackluster giveaway near midfield created the chance.

Martinez found the back of the net with his left foot again in the 22nd minute off a perfect through ball from Exequiel Palacios and then used his right foot from the center of the box in the 39th minute to extend the lead to a decisive 4-0.

¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉
¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉
¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉

Se equivocó el Tri en la salida, Lautaro Martínez no perdona. La Albiceleste se pone arriba en el marcador#México | #MéxicovsArgentina | #PasiónPorTuSelección

EN VIVO 🔴 https://t.co/ps0ZqBTEZN pic.twitter.com/MWMAfp6TD0

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) September 11, 2019

¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉
¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉
¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉

Doblete de Lautaro Martínez ⚽🔥#México | #MéxicovsArgentina | #PasiónPorTuSelección

EN VIVO 🔴 https://t.co/ps0ZqBTEZN pic.twitter.com/GTeeyLePl2

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) September 11, 2019

¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉
¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉
¡Gool de Argentina! 🇦🇷🎉

Hat-Trick de Lautaro Martínez ⚽⚽⚽🔥#México | #MéxicovsArgentina | #PasiónPorTuSelección

EN VIVO 🔴 https://t.co/ps0ZqBC48f pic.twitter.com/72Q2kv7G61

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) September 11, 2019

The one common theme was defensive breakdowns from El Tri, including when Carlos Salcedo conceded a penalty with a handball to set up Paredes' goal. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is typically a reliable performer, but he didn't have much of a chance on many of Argentina's early opportunities.

It was a shocking performance from Mexico given its recent success under head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino.

Mexico's backline is falling apart here. Far too many mistakes. A handball from Salcedo gifts a penalty to Argentina, who is now up 3-0! #ElTriEng

— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) September 11, 2019

Tom Marshall of ESPN noted El Tri was 10-0-1 with 32 goals for and 10 goals against in their previous 11 games under the former Argentina national team player. They averaged 18 shots per game during that span while controlling 60 percent of the possession.

It wasn't just the offense that played so well, as Marshall also pointed out Argentina's opening goal was just the second first-half score Mexico conceded in its 12 games under Martino.

El Tri still controlled 63 percent of the possession during Tuesday's match but were unable to generate anything of note. They managed just four shots (one on goal) to the victor's 17 (seven on goal), as Argentina's defense was much stronger on the back end.

Mexico could at least take solace in the fact that Paulo Dybala replaced Martinez at the start of the second half, which slowed Argentina's relentless attack and likely prevented an even bigger margin of defeat. The damage was already done from El Tri's perspective, though, as not even Carlos Rodriguez or Marco Fabian could provide any fireworks for the losing side as second-half subs.

            

What's Next?

Mexico faces Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 1, while Argentina squares off with Germany on Oct. 9. Both matches are international friendlies.

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi received a three-month ban from CONMEBOL on Friday for alleging corruption within the governing body of South American football during the 2019 Copa America tournament.

CONMEBOL announced the punishment (via Marca), which included a $50,000 fine. 

Messi received a red card during Argentina's victory over Chile in the event's third-place match and proceeded to skip the medal ceremony.

"We don't have to be part of this corruption [and] the lack of respect they showed us throughout this tournament," the longtime Barcelona forward told reporters. "Sadly, the corruption, the referees, they don't allow people to enjoy football."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq_Z__ZhDyE

Messi also said he believes CONMEBOL set the tournament up for the host nation of Brazil to win the championship.

"I think the cup is fixed for Brazil," he said. "I hope VAR and the referees have nothing to do in this final and that Peru can compete because they have the team to do so, although I think it's difficult."

Brazil claimed a 3-1 victory over Peru in the final.

The suspension will cause Messi to miss September friendlies against Chile and Mexico in the United States and an October friendly clash with Germany.

Coincidentally, he'll be eligible to return for a Nov. 13 clash with rival Brazil in Japan.

Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi received a $1,500 fine and will be suspended for one match for his sending-off in the third-place game of the 2019 Copa America, according to Argentine football journalist Sam Kelly.

Messi received a red card in the 37th minute after a brief incident with Gary Medel:

DOUBLE RED CARD 🔴 🔴

Lionel Messi and Gary Medel are both sent off after an altercation! pic.twitter.com/BiuPwE9iVX

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 6, 2019

Kelly specified the fine and suspension are tied to the red card, with further punishment to possibly come for comments Messi made alleging officials were conspiring to help host Brazil win the tournament.

"There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil," he said, per Goal's Daniel Edwards. "... I did not want to be part of this corruption; we shouldn't have to be part of this disrespect we suffered during the Copa America.

"We could have gone further, but we weren't allowed into the final. Corruption, referees and all the rest stopped people from enjoying the football."

Argentina played Brazil in the semifinals and lost 2-0. Following the defeat, Messi said La Albiceleste should've had two penalty kicks for fouls on Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero and questioned why the match referee didn't use video review.

A one-match ban for international play isn't a surprising outcome for Messi's red card, and a $1,500 fine qualifies as even less than a slap on the wrist. In June, Forbes listed Messi as the world's highest-paid athlete, calculating he had $127 million in total earnings in the last year.

Should it make a ruling regarding his post-match comments, CONMEBOL might come down a bit harder on the five-time Ballon d'Or winner for questioning the legitimacy of this year's Copa America.

Roddy Zambrano, the referee who took charge of the Copa America semi-final between Brazil and Argentina, has said he was "surprised" to receive criticism from Lionel Messi after the game. 

Messi has scrutinised the performances of the match officials in the tournament and referenced two penalties he feels the Albiceleste should have received against Brazil in their 2-0 semi-final loss. The Barcelona man was then sent off in the 2-1 win over Chile in the third-place fixture.

In one incident in the semi-final, Sergio Aguero seemed to be fouled off the ball by Dani Alves, while in another Arthur checked Nicolas Otamendi's run in the penalty area. Speaking to Super K-800 (h/t Sean Wilson of Goal), Zambrano explained why he made the calls and his reaction to some criticism from the Argentina star:

"It's not a nudge [from Arthur on Otamendi], the VAR checked and determined that it was 50-50. They did not consider it to be a clear penalty. On the first play it is clear that Aguero steps in. It's almost a reckless foul on the defender. I never lost contact with the VAR, that is totally false.

...

"[Messi] is dedicated to playing, and I never had problems with him, the truth is that I was surprised by his statements after the match, but everyone has their opinion.

"When the Argentina players said I was nervous, they were referring to the fact that I was annoyed because I am always serious when I referee."

As football writer Roy Nemer relayed, Messi didn't hold back in his assessment of the refereeing at the Copa, which was eventually won by Brazil:

Lionel Messi just going against all of CONMEBOL with his comments. To come out and say what he just said takes balls because he just flat out called them out on a lot. There's bad officiating and then there is the corruption that exists within CONMEBOL. This is huge.

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) July 6, 2019

Lionel Messi also hinting that his red card was payback for what he said following the game against Brazil.

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) July 6, 2019

In the game against Chile, Messi was given his marching orders along with Chile defender Gary Medel. The Barcelona star appeared a little hard done by with his dismissal, as Medel was the aggressor in the exchange between the pair.

As OptaJavier noted, red cards have been a rarity for the Barcelona forward:

2 - Lionel Messi has been sent off for the second time in his professional career, after getting a red card in his senior debut for Argentina 🇦🇷 in a friendly against Hungary, in 2005 (he has never been sent off playing for @FCBarcelona). Rare.#CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/H0dfJ5JeyY

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) July 6, 2019

While there will no doubt be a number of Argentina supporters who will agree with Messi's assessment of the officiating, Brazil's Thiago Silva hit back at the claims of "corruption" from the forward:

Wednesday: Lionel Messi accuses referees of "corruption" at the Copa America

Sunday: Thiago Silva hits back 😤 pic.twitter.com/8apixMYO6e

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 8, 2019

Overall, the tournament was one to forget for Messi, as he struggled to make the kind of impact we've become so accustomed to down the years.

He only scored one goal in his six Copa appearances, a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Paraguay in the group stages of the competition. At the end of a long campaign with Barcelona, which ended with La Liga success but UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey disappointment, there were some uncharacteristic signs of tiredness from the 32-year-old.

Barcelona supporters will be hopeful he can rest up ahead of the new domestic campaign. Per James Whaling of the Daily Mirror, in line with guidelines from South American governing body CONMEBOL, Messi could face a two-year ban from international football after calling the referees' integrity into question.