Lionel Messi is now Argentina’s all-time leading scorer after leading nation to Copa America final with 4-0 defeat of USA (see photos)

Lionel Messi is now Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 55 goals, overtaking Gabriel Batistuta as his nation’s top scorer after leading his country to a 4-0 win over U.S in the Copa America early this morning.

Ezequiel Lavezzi scored through a header after just three minutes before Argentina captain Lionel Messi doubled their lead with a stunning free-kick which was his 55th goal – making him Argentina’s outright record goalscorer.

Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain added a third from close range on 50 minutes before Higuain doubled his tally for the night on 86 minutes via a Messi assist making it a miserable match for the U.S.

Almost everything positive came through the Barcelona No 10. In the eighth minute he fired over, theneight minutes latersailed past three players before Guzan fielded his strike from the edge of the box but the next time Messi ran at the defence, it resulted in a goal.

The U.S team started with a line up that included Guzan, Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson; Zardes, Beckerman, Bradley, Zusi; Dempsey and Wondolowski while Argentina started with a ‘killer’ squad that comprised of Romero, Mercado, Funes Mori, Otamendi, Rojo, Augusto Fernandez, Mascherano, Banega, Messi, Higuain and Lavezzi.

Argentina will now face the winner of the match between Chile and Columbia in the Copa America final.