Lionel Messi's Penalty Disaster Sums Up an Argentina That Wilted Under Pressure

Argentina's Copa America hopes went flying out of MetLife Stadium at roughly the same height and velocity as Lionel Messi's skied penalty. The Albiceleste have once more choked in a major final, and the Barcelona legend must wonder if he will ever take the title he craves so badly in international colours. 

As Francisco Silva tucked home the winning kick to seal the centenary Copa for Chile after a tense, nasty 0-0 draw, the cameras inevitably panned on Messi. No. 10, the source of so much of Argentina's joyful attacking play this tournament, was visibly distraught. 

Messi had spent much of the 120 minutes beforehand trying desperately to invigorate the Albiceleste, but it was a losing cause. The team that had cruised past Bolivia, Panama, Venezuela and the United States had vanished into thin air, taking with it the carefree attitude seldom seen on the international stage. 

What reigned in New Jersey were the demons that have haunted the side for the last 23 years. Fear of losing, nerves, a failure to take chances, a timid outlook when decisive voices were needed. And ultimately, even the captain, who for so long had led his team along when heads were down—showing a skipper's personality in droves—could not resist the overwhelming wave of negativity that had infected the entire Argentina team, from coach Gerardo Martino onward. 

Chile, one of the fiercest teams in football and with an indomitable spirit, barely seemed to tremble when Arturo Vidal's opening penalty was stopped by Sergio Romero. But when Messi blazed his own effort far over Claudio Bravo's crossbar, it deflated his own team, making the result little more than a foregone conclusion. 

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

One year ago, Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega were the villains from the spot. This time around, Lucas Biglia found no way through the sprightly Bravo. Meanwhile Nicolas Castillo, Charles Aranguiz and Jean Beausejour effortlessly converted their own efforts and Silva dealt the killer blow, sealing a second Copa title in as many years for a Roja side that must now, having absorbed the pain of losing Jorge Sampaoli, be considered among the world's elite. 

But the same conclusion could just as easily have been made during the game itself. Juan Antonio Pizzi's team, packed with players such as Eduardo Vargas, Mauricio Isla, and Beausejour who have never made it past mid-table obscurity in a major European league, are far more than the sum of its parts. 

Argentina, meanwhile, have all the talent but seem unable to deliver when it really counts. There is no better example of that under-achievement than looking squarely up the pitch at Higuain and Sergio Aguero. 

Higuain smashed 36 goals in Serie A last season for Napoli. Aguero adds another 24 in just 30 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium. But neither has been capable of reproducing that form when it really counts for Argentina. Pipita evoked painful memories of the 2014 World Cup final with a one-on-one miss, while El Kun ambled about the pitch, making the wrong decisions more often than not and spurning a brilliant chance with a shot that soared high into the MetLife stands. 

Credit must go too to Bravo, who—with two Liga titles, two Copas America, two Copas del Rey and a Champions League winner's medal—has become the most successful player on the planet. The goalkeeper never faltered, and came up with a save worthy of the occasion to deny Aguero and keep Chile on track. 

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

It once more was Messi against the world, with the Barcelona player at one point grabbing the ball on the halfway line, surging forward 40 yards on goal and flashing a shot wide of Bravo's right-hand post. Argentina were waiting for La Pulga to do something special, as most of his team-mates appeared paralysed by the fear of losing another final, but there were no more tricks left in the bag, no more rabbits to pull out of his hat. 

There are plenty of positives to be taken from this Copa from an Argentine point of view. Banega proved himself as an international midfielder of the highest quality, playing an ideal foil to Messi and arguably standing out as Argentina's best performer over the entire competition. 

Ditto Ramiro Funes Mori. The Albiceleste may not have even reached the shoot-out had the Everton defender not made a stunning tackle to deny Chile with the goal at point-blank range towards the end of the clash. His partnership with Nicolas Otamendi proved rock-solid, with just two goals conceded in 570 minutes of football in the United States, and he will surely continue as the heart of defence through the World Cup qualifiers. 

Matias Kranevitter also showed he has the potential to succeed Javier Mascherano as the midfield's anchorman with two fleeting but impressive performances, one in the heat of the final itself. In Brazil throughout August, a new generation of stars will look to make their case for selection. That will be timely, as this Copa America should prove the end of the line for many of Argentina's players. 

Argentina were defeated by Chile, but they were also defeated by their own fear. The fear of losing again, the fear of being humiliated by a dangerous Chile in front of so many expectant fans, the fear that the unthinkable nightmare of being vanquished in a third successive final could actually come true. 

A glorious chance has now come and gone. Argentina should have been untouchable in the U.S., but the weight of pressure beat them. Messi proved that he is human, but his anguish was only the most obvious example of a team that has underachieved and fallen at the final hurdle for the better part of a generation. 

Can Messi still win a title for his beloved nation? Russia 2018 should not be an insurmountable goal. But first each and every player in the Albiceleste must face up to some hard truths, and break the mental block that appears when silverware is in reach. If not, the best player of the last 30 years will forever carry the millstone of failing to break Argentina's evermore painful trophy drought.