In the 51st minute of last year’s Copa America finals rematch between Argentina and Chile, Ever Banega won the ball in Chile’s half and laid the ball off to Angel Di Maria for the opening goal. The roles reversed just eight minutes later - this time, off another turnover, Di Maria received the ball with space in Chile’s half and fed Banega for a nearly identical goal. The pressing and quick counterattacking was no surprise considering the two midfielder’s success in Europe this season. Argentina got their revenge from last summer’s penalty kick loss, and they did so most notably without Lionel Messi.

Considering how synonymous Messi is with how we partake in his impossible YouTube and Vine highlights, it is difficult to imagine what life after Messi looks like. Mind you, at only 28 years old, we the soccer viewing public will have Messi for a few more years. But he has played in 178 games over the past three seasons between club and international tournament duties (scoring 156 goals). Slowed by a back injury, Messi played only 74 minutes in the three group stage matches of this Copa America. It was the first time we’d seen Argentina play without the player they over relied upon in some time. The cynic will point to the lack of quality group stage opponents, but whether through an improvement in defense, coaching, or players other than Messi, the cohesive side look poised to win their first senior title since 1993.    

It starts with manager Tata Martino, who famously oversaw the first Barcelona team to lose the possession battle in five seasons (to his credit, he did have the unenviable task of bridging the gap between the tiki taka era and Luis Enrique’s balanced attack - perhaps he was two years ahead of his time). It may be unfair to Chile in comparing the intensity of last year’s finals to a group stage match, especially one played at home compared to thousands of miles away in Santa Clara, California. Martino’s lineup selection showed improvement in two areas from the same tournament last year: first, he replaced the aging Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta with Ramiro Funes Mori and Gabriel Mercado. In midfield, Augusto Fernandez and Ever Banega brought tempo and energy. Argentina played the opening match with an energy normally associated with Chile.

Without Messi, the match belonged to Di Maria (Di Maria seems to always be the category of player who is not the team’s best, but the most important in setting a tempo). Mascherano’s move back to midfield gives Martino an onfield brain. And if the biggest question mark in recent years was finding replacements for an aging group of defenders, Ramiro Funes Mori, Marco Rojos and Nicolas Otamendi in particular fit the modern, pressing mold. Each can be inconsistent bordering on reckless, but Argentina have only allowed a single goal in three matches.   

And if Di Maria's zig zag, direct style is a loud roar, then Ever Banega’s smooth positioning, movement, and give and goes to create space is the silent engine of the attack. Banega sat on the bench for the 2014 World Cup final as Enzo Perez and Lucas Biglia - a robust pairing - were favored to play in front of Mascherano in midfield. Last year, he came on in the 91st minute of the Copa America finals and missed a penalty.

But examine the questions asked of Argentina and Martino just a year ago, in the soul searching aftermath of losing two finals in a row - the biggest difference is Banega’s improvement. Jonathan Wilson highlighted Javier Pastore as the creative midfielder last September. Instead, Banega’s confidence and influence particularly on the national team is growing as he hits the prime of his career. In the last two months, he’s won a Europa League title and secured a move to Inter Milan. We’ve always known of his skill, his ability to control a match is turning into tangible results for Argentina and alongside the Rosario-to-Europe group of Di Maria, Mascherano, Martino and Messi. He well deserves another trophy.

With Brazil out, and having already beaten Chile, the Copa America represents Argentina’s best chance to win its first senior international tournament since 1993. They were heavy favorites coming in, if only for the reason that they would take the tournament most seriously. Di Maria should return at some point in the knockout rounds. Messi is expected to start in the quarterfinals match against Venezuela, where, in his words, the real competition begins.

There were questions of the entire squad, but especially of Martino, immediately after the Copa America loss last year. Was he the right manager to lead the side in the next World Cup cycle? What young players would step into the starting line? How much blame should Messi receive? Of course, Messi still can win a match by himself at a moment’s notice, yet this tournament more than the last two summers represents his teammates rising to the occasion in his absence. It’s a reality that may become more familiar as the years pass. But that same compromise may also lead to the highest point of Messi’s international career, and the most important moment for Argentina’s senior side in over 20 years.