Argentina vs. Ecuador: Lionel Messi’s Best Bets

Argentina vs. Ecuador at 9:00 p.m. ET

We are into the knockouts at the Copa America, and the first match will see the defending champions taking on Ecuador. It has massive David vs. Goliath vibes. Ecuador has played Argentina 40 times in their history and has only won five times. Due to this, many are predicting a one-sided scoreline with La Albiceleste running away with this one. Ecuador will likely try to defend deep and allow Argentina to dominate possession. This will enable their talisman, Lionel Messi, to have his hand in the proceedings in a way only he can.

So, with all that in mind, here are some of the best bets for the Argentina vs. Ecuador game centered around Messi.

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.

Lionel Messi to have 2 or more shots on target from outside the box +185

With Ecuador dropping deep and making it compact, getting inside the 18-yard box will be challenging. Against Chile, Argentina faced the same problem, and Messi took a crack from outside the box that just about went in. They settled a bit too easily as a team for shots from a distance. There is a chance of this happening again against an Ecuadorian side that will attempt to frustrate them with their physicality. Being on free-kick duty will also allow Messi to take shots from range. 

Lionel Messi to have 1 or more shots on target from outside the box & assist 1 or more goals +330

Following that thought, this prop bet seems like a good play for several reasons. If given the space, Messi will have opportunities and the desire to shoot from afar. As for the assist portion, he will have a great deal of influence when playing centrally. Even in the later stages of his career, he has shown his ability to unlock even the most formidable defenses. Pair that with his teammate Lautaro Martínez leading the race for the Golden Boot with four goals in the tournament, as well as him and Messi already linking up in the attack; it’s not a leap to think that they’ll get on the scoresheet once again.

Lionel Messi to assist 2 or more goals +1500

It’s a bit of a longer shot prop, but I still think it has value. Since 2011, Messi has registered 17 assists in the Copa America, three times more than any other player in the same time frame. Against Canada, he had seven passes that broke the defensive line of Canada, and while he only finished with one assist, he was a crucial part of Julian Alvarez’s goal to break the deadlock. If Argentina breaks Ecuador down in the manner that everybody expects, Messi will have many opportunities to add to his 50-goal involvement for his country on US soil.

Parlay: Lionel Messi Anytime Goal Scorer, Lionel Messi Anytime Assist, Player to have 1 or more shots on target in each half +693

Combining everything, you can make a parlay built around Messi dominating against Ecuador. At the last Copa America, which Argentina won, Messi finished joint top scorer with four goals and had five assists to go along with it. He is a big game player who is still capable of magic whenever he touches the pitch. Ecuador will have their hands full, and this is the perfect stage for Messi to start stamping his authority on the Copa America and leading Argentina to another final. 

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.