Argentina, Chile Re-enact 2015 Final as Messi Eyes First ArgiesTitle

In a rematch of the 2015, the Copa America final is set after Chile defeated Colombia 2-0 on Wednesday night in the semifinal; one night after Argentina made simple work of the United States in a 4-0.

There's little to suggest Argentina will be stopped in the final. Other than a 2-1 triumph against Chile in its opener, Argentina has won by at least three goals in each of its last four matches. This is a team with an embarrassment of riches within its roster, most notably with its attacking options. Gonzalo Higuain, Erik Lamela and Ezequiel Lavezzi have combined for eight goals this tournament.

While they've been succeeding, Sergio Aguero, who is arguably one of the most dangerous scorers in the Barclays Premier League, has been waiting on the bench for an opportunity just to get a start.

But it all comes down to midfielder Lionel Messi, who is the motor of La Albiceleste. The best all-around player on the planet, he is an elite scorer and distributor as he's shown throughout this tournament with five goals and four assists.

Argentina's defense has also been resolute this entire tournament as its given up just two goals.

If there was a team, though, that could ask questions of Argentina, it's Chile, which defeated La Albiceleste in the 2015 Copa America final in penalties.

Like Argentina, Chile is loaded with dangerous scorers, led by Eduardo Vargas, who has a tournament-best six goals.

He's teamed up brilliantly with Alexis Sanchez, who has three goals of his own this tournament. They'll also receive a boost with Arturo Vidal's return in the final. Vidal was suspended for the semifinal against Colombia due to yellow-card accumulation.

Chile primarily flexed its muscles in its resounding 7-0 thumping of Mexico in the quarterfinals, including four goals from Vargas, who showed his ability to be a poacher inside of the box.

Its defense has been solid as of late just like Argentina's. After allowing four goals in its first three games, Chile has shut out Mexico and Colombia, which should be a confidence booster heading into Sunday.

So if anything was guaranteed about the Copa America Centenario final, it's that there are countless players who hold game-changing capabilities, which should make for a memorable match at MetLife Stadium.

Messi's goalscoring exploits at the Copa America Centenario have rewritten his country's record books and left Argentina on the brink of a first major title for 23 years.

But if Argentina are to avoid a fourth straight defeat in a major final when they take the field in New Jersey on Sunday, the chances are they will have to do something they have never done before in the Messi era: score.

In three finals dating back to the climax of the 2007 Copa America, when Messi lined up in an Argentina side that was beaten 3-0 by Brazil in Venezuela, the Albiceleste have failed to find the back of the net.

Another shutout followed in the 2014 World Cup final, which ended in a 1-0 loss to Germany, before an agonising defeat on penalties to Chile in last year's Copa America following a 0-0 draw.

All the signs, however, suggest that Argentina's barren goalscoring spell – and long wait for a title could come to an end at the MetLife Stadium this weekend, where Argentina will face Chile.

Tuesday's 4-0 semifinal drubbing of the United States took Argentina's tournament goals tally to 18 in five matches, or 3.6 goals per game.

While Messi grabbed the headlines for his magnificent free-kick that saw him become his country's record scorer with 55 goals, one clear of Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina's goals have come from all angles.

"We've been playing well from day one and we deserve to be in the final," Messi said on Tuesday, dedicating his goals tally to the work of his teammates.

"I'm happy to have the record, and I'm happy to play with teammates that have made it possible. I owe it to them," the five-time world player of the year added.

A tournament that could prove to be Messi's crowning glory has followed a troubled build-up dominated by injury and the distraction of his trial in Barcelona for tax fraud.

He arrived in the United States late, still troubled by a back injury sustained during a friendly win over Honduras last month, and was forced to sit out Argentina's opening game against Chile.

If that wasn't bad enough, Diego Maradona cast doubt on Messi's ability to captain Argentina soon after the tournament got under way, complaining to reporters at an event in Paris that "he has no personality."

"He doesn't have the character to be a leader," Maradona complained.

Messi responded to that verbal salvo with a sublime cameo against Panama a few days later, entering as a second-half substitute and scoring a brilliant hat-trick inside 19 minutes.

Since then, he has been close to his impish best, scoring a wonderful curling, dipping free-kick against the USA on Tuesday while creating goals for Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain.

He even found time to autograph the jersey of a fan who sprinted onto the pitch at halftime in Houston, smiling and hugging the interloper who was subsequently escorted from the stadium by security guards.

The only note of caution for Argentina fans is that the team has been down this road before. Last year, Messi was superb as Argentina demolished Paraguay 6-1 in the semifinals of the Copa America with the best attacking display of the tournament.

Neverthless, the upbeat mood in the Argentine camp is a far cry from the sense of despondency that enveloped Messi and his teammates after last year's Copa America heartache.

He was named player of the tournament in Chile but reportedly refused to accept the award, disgusted by yet another loss in a major final.