Lionel Messi is coming to town, and the soccer superstar is brining his friends.
Argentina’s national soccer team will play against Venezuela on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., in the Copa America 2016 quarterfinals. The matchup was set Tuesday night at the conclusion of group-stage play, and the anticipation for the quarterfinal game in New England is building at a feverish pace.
Argentina was the favorite to win Copa America 2016 coming into the tournament and has demonstrated championship form so far. Argentina finished first in Group D by taking all nine available points from the group stage. Messi, Argentina’s captain, leads Copa America in scoring with three goals in just two substitute appearances.
Venezuela earned the date with Argentina by finishing second in Group C. Venezuela tied Mexico on points with seven, but its inferior goal differential (plus-two to Mexico’s plus-four) means Messi, Sergio Aguero, Javier Mascherano and Co. await.
The Argentina-Venezuela winner will face either the United States or Ecuador on June 21 at NRG Stadium in Houston in the semifinals.
The world’s best soccer player and one of the best teams don’t come this close to home every day, and they might not come back again.
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
