Related items

• Messi a doubt for Copa America quarter-final, claims Argentina boss Scaloni

  Lionel Messi is a doubt for Argentina's Copa America quarter-final tie against Ecuador, so says Lionel Scaloni.

  With the holders having already booked their progression to the last eight, Messi, who is the record appearance maker at the Copa America, sat out Argentina's final Group A match against Peru.

  His absence was not felt as Lautaro Martinez's double propelled Argentina to their third win of the tournament.

  However, ahead of Thursday's knockout clash with Ecuador in Houston, Scaloni suggested the 37-year-old may miss out again.

  "We will wait a few hours and make a decision. Another day is always better. We'll decide on the basis of the response we get today," Scaloni said on Wednesday.

  "We'll try to get him to play and if he doesn't, we'll try to find the best thing for the team.

  "I'm going to talk to him today, I think it's fair that he takes his time and trains as much as he can."

  Should Messi not make it, then Scaloni will likely lean on the tournament's leading scorer Martinez, who has netted four goals so far despite starting only one match.

  Regardless of Messi's fitness, Argentina, who beat Ecuador 1-0 in a pre-tournament friendly, are big favourites to progress to the semi-finals, with Opta's predictive model handing them a 68.4% chance of victory.

  Yet Scaloni knows Ecuador must not be underestimated.

  "Ecuador are a well-drilled side with good players and a good coach," he said.

  "They are one of the best teams in the Copa America. They have a real chance of challenging for the title.

  "Anyone can easily reach the final and compete with the best in the world.

  "Yesterday's game between Colombia and Brazil was of a very high standard. Uruguay are also doing very well."

  Argentina have won their last eight matches, including friendlies, equalling the longest winning streak under Scaloni.

  A win over Ecuador will set a new record for La Albiceleste since Scaloni's debut as coach in September 2018.

• Copa America Golden Boot: Martinez leading the charge, can Nunez catch up?

  The Copa America is well under way, with the group stages already done and dusted.

  Argentina made light work of progressing from Group A, even though Lionel Messi had to sit out their last fixture.

  And key to their success has been the goalscoring form of Lautaro Martinez, who is making up for some bad misses at the 2022 World Cup.

  Brazil also progressed, with Vinicius Junior their talisman as expected, while Darwin Nunez is the key attacker for Marcelo Bielsa's free-flowing Uruguay.

  Ahead of the knockouts, how is the Copa America Golden Boot race shaping up?

   

  Lautaro Martinez (four goals)

  We'll start with the leader in the race, and that is Martinez.

  The forward had an outstanding season for Inter, who he led to the Scudetto while finishing as top scorer in Serie A, scoring 24 goals in 33 appearances, and comfortably outperforming his 17.6 xG.

  However, he came into the build-up to this tournament in poor form for his country, having not netted for Argentina in 2026 World Cup qualifying.

  But he scored a double in a 4-1 win over Guatemala in a pre-tournament friendly, and even though he has started just one of Argentina's matches so far, he has netted four times.

  Martinez is also the Argentina player with the most shots (nine). In fact, since his debut in the Copa America in 2019, Martinez is the tournament's top scorer with nine goals (two in 2019, three in 2021, four in 2024), four more than Messi and Luis Diaz (five each).

  It remains to be seen whether Martinez will have to settle for a super-sub role once Messi returns to the fold, but with Ecuador next up, and then a potential semi-final against either Canada or Venezuela, Argentina's path to the final is opening up nicely, and Martinez should fancy his chances.

  Vinicius Junior (two goals)

  Fresh from winning the Champions League with Real Madrid (and scoring in the final – again), Vinicius came into the Copa America as Brazil's talisman.

  With Neymar absent through injury, the onus is on the winger to provide the creative spark and clinical edge to drag what looks like a more dogged, workmanlike squad through to the latter stages.

  However, he will be absent for Brazil's clash with in-form Uruguay, who are arguably the favourites going into that tie, due to picking up two yellow cards in the group stages.

  Vinicius' booking tally matches his goal tally at the tournament so far, with both of those having come in the first half of a 4-1 rout of Paraguay.

  But with Brazil only having a maximum of two games left, will he have time to catch Martinez?

  Darwin Nunez (two goals)

  One player who could end Vinicius' hopes altogether is Uruguay forward Nunez.

  The Liverpool striker is an erratic finisher, but he is an integral part of Marcelo Bielsa's free-flowing attack.

  The 24-year-old may never be ultra-clinical, (he had a shot conversion rate of 10.2 per cent in the Premier League in the season just gone) but his pace, tenacity and work rate make him the ideal Bielsa folly up top.

  Indeed, he has converted just one of his six Opta-defined big chances so far at this Copa America, but his two goals have come from an xG of 1.8, showing he's about on track.

  If Uruguay can get past Brazil, they will face Colombia or Panama in the semi-finals. Nunez should be locking in on that Golden Boot.

  Salomon Rondon (two goals)

  An unlikely name on this list is Venezuela veteran Rondon, but his two goals – scored in wins over Mexico and Jamaica – helped his side top Group B with nine points.

  Venezuela will face Canada in the quarters, and while Jesse Marsch's team are a surprise package in the last eight, they have proved they can be wide open defensively at times.

  Only three players can better Rondon's 1.98 xG across the tournament so far, while the 34-year-old has had 13 shots, which matches Martinez's total.

  He is getting into good positions and having plenty of attempts. If Venezuela indeed get the better of Canada, who's to say Rondon cannot claim this prize?

  Daniel Munoz, Eduard Bello, Maximiliano Araujo (two goals)

  There are three other players tied on two goals, though perhaps they are a tad more unlikely to challenge Martinez.

  Munoz grabbed his second goal of the tournament in Colombia's 1-1 draw with Brazil, though as a right-back, he cannot be expected to keep up the scoring run.

  Bello, meanwhile, has scored his two goals from just three shots, so that does not seem particularly sustainable.

  Araujo, on the other hand, has netted twice from an xG of just 0.6, so he is overperforming.

  What about Messi?

  Not only did Messi finish as joint-top scorer at the 2021 Copa, he was also the leading assister and then, 18 months later, he went on to lead Argentina to World Cup glory, scoring seven goals in the process, from 6.6 expected goals – only Kylian Mbappe (eight) netted more times in Qatar.

  Messi has scored 13 Copa America goals, which puts him joint-seventh on the all-time list, alongside fellow Argentina great Gabriel Batistuta. 

  However, he has been unable to add to that total so far.

  He took on the role of creator in Argentina's opening win against Canada, and has had seven shots in total, but so far, no luck.

• Jamaican Olympian Zara Northover shines at BET Awards, steals spotlight during Lauryn Hill's performance

  The 2024 BET Awards, held on June 30 at The Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, was a night filled with stellar performances and memorable moments. One standout segment was Lauryn Hill’s spiritual, Caribbean-inspired set that closed the show, leaving the audience on their feet. Hill's performance, adorned in the vibrant green, black, and gold colors of Jamaica, resonated deeply with viewers and attendees alike.

  Among those captivated by Hill’s performance was none other than former Jamaican shot putter and 2008 Olympian Zara Northover. Known for her motivational speeches and event hosting, Northover has continued to inspire both nationally and internationally. She recently officiated the wedding of four-time gold medalist Aleen Bailey in November 2023, further cementing her presence in the sports community.

  Track historians and sharp-eyed viewers noticed Northover seated in the second row behind social media personality Jordon Howlett. The moment gained an amusing twist when BET host Taraji P. Henson mistakenly honored Howlett with a rose, thinking he was the American food critic Keith Lee. Cameras caught Northover vibing to Lauryn Hill’s music, showcasing her enduring charisma and infectious energy.

  

  Peaches Roach Findley, a former Jamaican high jumper and recent Iowa Hall of Famer, shared her excitement about her best friend's appearance. "When Zara told me she was selected to go to the BET Awards, I watched the night away knowing that the BET Awards camera would find Zara Northover," Roach Findley said. "She has always had a light you can’t deny but notice."

  Northover, who owns Moving in Faith, LLC, continues to support and uplift athletes along their journeys. She expressed her excitement about her longtime friend Chelsea Hammond finally receiving her Bronze Medal from the 2008 Olympic Games, where they both competed.

  Zara Northover’s presence at the BET Awards highlighted her enduring influence and celebrated her contributions both on and off the field, as she remains a beacon of inspiration within the athletic community.