Messi, is the wait going to end soon

Going into Copa America Final, I was torn between rooting for the Chileans or to support the Albicelestes.

I always have a soft spot of Argentina because of players like Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta, Claudio Canniga and now Lionel Messi. Some of them might be controversial but they are all brilliant players.

On the other hand, the Chileans have in their ranks, players like Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal, Claudio Bravo, Gary Medal and Eduardo Vargas. A golden era for Chilean football.

Instead of choosing side, I decided to remain neutral and enjoy the final.

120 minutes could not separate the two teams and it was down to the penalty shoot out which Chile prevailed.

While the host nation celebrates, the camera panned in on Lionel Messi. Like a year ago in the World Cup final, the downcasted magician from Argentina ends up as a loser in a major tournament.

Will Messi follow the footsteps of Zico and Johan Cruyff as one of the best players of their generation to have never won any major international honours?

Here is the team of the tournament, made up of players with the highest rankings.

Barcelona and Liverpool, a contrasting difference

When Barcelona hammered Getafe 6-0 at the Nou Camp, Messi and Suarez both hit a double while Neymar and Xavi scored a goal apiece.

Known collectively as MSN in Spain, the trio of Messi (49 goals), Suarez (21) and Neymar (32) has now scored a combined 102 goals in all competition this season. They smashed the club record of a century of goals scored by Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry during the 2009 Treble winning season.

With at least 6 more games to go, who in the right state of mind will bet against them stretching the record further.

What makes this feat more impressive is Suarez's contribution. Due to his ban for biting an opponent during the World Cup, the Uruguary international started his Barcelona career only in end October. It is not far-fetched to suggest the record would have been broken earlier if not of his ban.

Whenever Suarez is being mentioned, one cannot help but bring Liverpool into the picture. Powered by his and Sturridge's goals, Liverpool pushed Manchester City hard for the title last season. Surely, their performances will give their fans plenty to look forward to this season.

But Suarez was sold to Barcelona while Sturridge had an injuries plagued season. New recruits Mario Balotelli had one goal to his name while Rickie Lambert could only double the tally. False number nine, Sterling, who is their top scorer this season, had only 11.

The total goals scored as at the time of posting, 47. With such low tally, getting into the top four will be a tall order, let alone winning the title.

One cannot help but wonder what it might have been had Liverpool kept their S&S strike-force together.

Like they say, goals win you games. But, don't tell this to Jose Mourinho.