Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho stepped onto the turf for his first-ever Copa America start on Sunday, as world champions Argentina defeated Peru 2-0 in their final group match.
The 19-year-old had obviously gotten the trust of La Albiceleste boss Lionel Scaloni as the gaffer rang the changes.
Alejandro’s erstwhile United team-mate Lisandro Martinez, who played every minute of Argentina’s first two Copa America fixtures in the USA – wins over Canada and Chile, was rested for the game against Peru at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida as they had already qualified for the knockouts.
Garnacho went on to play for 66 minutes of the eventual victory, courtesy of two second-half goals from Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.
This Copa America debut is another key landmark for the United no.17, who gained his first cap for Argentina in June 2023, after breaking into the Reds’ first team.
Garna and Licha now have to wait for Monday’s matches in Group B to find out their quarter-final opponents would be – essentially any nation in between Venezuela, Mexico, Ecuador and Jamaica finishing second in their group will face Argentina in Houston at 02:00 BST on Thursday 4 July.