World champions Argentina kicked off their quest for back-to-back Copa America titles with a 2-0 win against Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday, in front of a crowd of 70,564.

Julian Alvarez opened the scoring in the 49th minute, and despite a string of inspired saves from Canada's Max Crepeau and some uncharacteristic misses from Lionel Messi, Argentina remained in control until Lautaro Martinez sealed the victory in the 88th minute.

Argentina, heavily supported by fans donning light blue and white stripes, deserved their win. However, Canada, ranked 48th in the world, earned credit for their resilience against the 15-time Copa America champions.

Alvarez, chosen over Lautaro Martinez as Messi's attacking partner, had the first major chance, charging down an attempted clearance from Ismael Kone. However, a heavy touch allowed Crepeau to smother the ball.

Messi, becoming the most capped player in Copa America history with his 35th appearance, nearly opened the scoring himself with a shot that flashed just wide of the far post. Despite finding gaps in the Canadian defense, Argentina faced a competitive midfield battle and half-chances from Alphonso Davies, Liam Millar, and Tajon Buchanan.

The first significant save came in the 40th minute when Crepeau dealt well with an Alexis Mac Allister header. Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez ensured a goalless first half with a sharp reaction save to deny Stephen Eustaquio's powerful header.

Argentina didn't take long to break the deadlock in the second half. Messi threaded a pass to Mac Allister, who was brought down by Crepeau, but before the referee could react, Alvarez slotted home the loose ball.

Alvarez had another opportunity moments later, but Crepeau's diving save kept Canada in contention. With more urgency and a tactical switch to a 4-3-3 formation by coach Jesse Marsch, Canada began to press the Argentine defense, which showed signs of discomfort under pressure.

However, Argentina nearly capitalized on a classic counter-attack when Martinez launched a long ball to Messi. Despite the crowd's anticipation, Messi's initial effort was parried by Crepeau, and his follow-up shot was cleared by Derek Cornelius.

Messi continued to miss uncharacteristic chances, including a one-on-one with Crepeau where he slid his shot wide. Crepeau's heroics continued as he denied Lautaro Martinez, but with two minutes remaining, Messi delivered another clinical pass, allowing Lautaro to secure the 2-0 victory by slipping past the advancing Crepeau.

The win sets a positive tone for Argentina as they aim to defend their Copa America title, with promising performances from both seasoned stars and emerging talents.