Now is the time for Lionel Messi to silence the doubters

Lionel Messi is a phenomenal player. His incredible talent both on and off the ball are undeniable. His hugecollection of trophies and awards and accolades that he's earned over his career is incredible to behold. One the power of everything he's done, everything he's accomplished, Messi should be considered one of the greatest players ever to step onto a football pitch, if not the greatest.

And yet, there is doubt.

Messi is beloved by many, admired by many, imitated by many. It seems like every new teenage starlet that dazzles with fancy footwork and passing is dubbed the Messi of his country. He is the superstar of superstars, a man who is looked up to as an icon of both incredible quality and incredible sportsmanship. Seemingly no one can stand up against Messi with everything he represents.

And yet, there is doubt.

Ever since Messi rose to the pinnacle of stardom, there's been this lingering element of doubt around his career that is harped on by so many. Despite everything he's done withBarcelona, winning La Liga over and over, winning the Champions League over and over, winning the Ballon d'Or over and over, and scoring more club goals both in one season and over a calendar year than anyone has before, there's one thing that, in the opinion of so many, holds him completely out of the conversation of greatest ever player.

He's never done it at the international level.

Lionel Messi has played over 100 times for Argentina. He's rapidly closing on 50 international goals. He's the youngest player ever to score at the World Cup, and is tied for the most goals scored in a year in international play. But for all that, Argentina have never won a World Cup with Messi in the side, and they've never won the Copa America with Messi in the side.

Yeah, he's won Olympic gold with Argentina, but that's not considered a major accomplishment in men's football, and a Youth World Cup title isn't considered all that highly either. It's all about senior international trophies, on your continent and in the World Cup, and those are the two things Messi has never, ever won. He came so close a year ago in the World Cup, only for Argentina to get overpowered by Germany in extra time in the final.

Now, it's not entirely Messi's fault. Argentina have always been a good side with him in it, but they've rarely been a great side, and when they have there's always been a couple other great international teams around who are just a little better. They've also gone through some long stretches of being a dysfunctional side, through poor squad balance or awful management. In the modern era of international football, one man can't carry a team, even one man as superlatively talented as Messi.

But on Saturday, all that can change.

For the second straight summer, Argentina are in a major international cup final. They've struggled at times in this edition of the Copa America, but when the moment has counted, Messi and company have turned it on and gotten the wins. Uruguay, Jamaica, and Colombia all fell before Argentina before the Albiceleste got their revenge on Paraguay in the semifinals for stealing a point in their first match of the tournament. Messi nabbed a hat trick of assists in that match, bringing him level with Chile's Jose Valdivia for most in the tournament, and while he's only scored one himself, Messi has constantly been at the heart of creating Argentina's goals all tournament long.

And now, it's time to face Chile. Only one team stands before Lionel Messi and Argentina now. If he leads his country to just one more win, he can forever throw the monkey off his back of not finding success at the international level. He will lift that trophy high, and there will be no more excuses for the doubters to fall back on.

Lionel Messi is the greatest player the world has ever seen. In the Copa America final, he can prove it once and for all.