How Messi, Mascherano and Bravo got to the Copa América Final

How Messi, Mascherano and Bravo got to the Copa América Final

The three FC Barcelona players lead their teams into Saturday's Argentina–Chile title match

Leo Messi, Javier Mascherano and Claudio Bravo shared the Barca dressing room and celebrated the 2014/15 Treble together. But this Saturday the Barça three players face off in the final of the Copa América, and once the game is over, only two Argentina players or one Chilean goalkeeper will celebrate a new title.

To reach the final, Argentina won their group by drawing 2–2 with Paraguay and beating both Jamaica and Uruguay 1–0. In the quarter-finals, the Argentines had to go to penalty kicks to win, while they routed Paraguay 6–1 in the semi-finals.

Chile also won their group after a 3–3 draw against Mexico, a 2–0 win over  Ecuador and a 5–0 rout of Bolivia. In the quarter-finals they slipped past Uruguay 1–0 and then defeated Peru, 2–1, in the semis.

Blaugrana keys

All three Barça stars have played key roles for their respective teams on the road to Saturday's Final. Mascherano only missed 13 minutes after being subbed out of the semi-finals to avoid a yellow card that would have left him out of the Final.

Messi, the Argentina captain, has just one goal, a penalty kick in the first match against Paraguay, but has taken 17 shots and has three assists.

Bravo is Chile's captain and has conceded just four goals, with three shutouts in five games, tied for tops in the tournament.

Here's a look at the stats from the three Barça players heading into the Copa América Final:

  Messi Mascherano Bravo
Games 5 5 5
Minutes 450 437 450
Goals 1 0 0
Shots on target 8 0 -
Shots off target 9 1 -
Scoring chances created 13 2 -
Assists 280 365 156
Passing percentage 83.6% 91.4% 39.5%
Interceptions 20 26 56
Tackles won 3 7 -
Tackles lost 0 1 -
Blocks 0 7 4
Fouls received 19 9 0
Fouls committed 1 5 0
Yellow cards 1 2 0
Força Barça
Força Barça

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