The tension was almost too high for the Argentine veteran - he has painful memories of penalty shootouts in the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals.
But new first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano MartÃnez made three saves as Argentina defeated Colombia on penalties to advance to Saturday's final after a 1-1 draw.
The game was always entertaining, often bad-tempered, but made Lionel Messi's fans feel good, as well as all those looking forward to the Maracan showdown between Brazil and Argentina.
Had Colombia won the shootout, the match would have gone down in record as a draw, and Argentina would have maintained an unbeaten run that stretched back to two years earlier. But it would not have been in the slightest consolation for Messi and Co., with the star No. 10 searching for his first senior title with the national team, and the Argentine aiming to end a 28-year-old injury. He has not won any senior silverware since the 1993 Copa America.
Coach Lionel Scaloni's first competitive game in charge was also against Colombia – a disappointing 2–0 defeat in the opening match of the 2019 Copa. This brought an instant death to the initial idea of his playing. Inspired by world champion France, Scoloni wanted a team of quick turnaround. But he ended up with a side spread across the pitch and was picked up by the Colombians. It was a model of the game that mattered little in a side featuring an aging Messi. From that low point, Scoloni's side continued to improve, moving towards an idea that was very evident in the first few minutes of this encounter in Brasilia.
Messi, 34, is now neatly placed in the passing circuit, including midfielders Rodrigo de Paul and Giovanni Lo Celso, and is developing a relationship with centre-forward Lautaro Martinez. He had already come close to setting a goal for Martinez when another opportunity quickly came along. Lo Celso slams a ball into the right channel of the penalty area, Messi goes in and lays it back to sweep Martinez into the far corner. It was Argentina's 11th goal of the competition - each one of them involving Messi.
Argentina has made a quick start in every match of the tournament. And each time they have found it difficult to maintain it. The same dynamic manifested itself once again, as Colombia - physical and direct - forced it back into contention.
The teams met in a World Cup qualifier in Colombia just before the Copa. Argentina took a two-goal lead. Colombia piled on the pressure and leveled with the final attack of the game. Playing only his second match for his country, Emiliano Martinez didn't even reach half-time - after a nasty clash with giant centre-back Yeri Mina. On Tuesday, a collision with striker Duvan Zapata's tremendous form put him down again. Thankfully for Argentina he was fit to continue this time around - although he could do nothing about Colombia's equalizer at the time.
Coach Reynaldo Rueda completely changed his side at half-time, made three substitutions and changed the formation. Instead of 4-4-2, he now lined up his men to bowl over 4-3-3, with full-back, plenty of pace and width as playmaker Edwin Cardona attacked to add some much-needed subtlety . Cardona split the defense deeply with a pass that allowed excellent left winger Luis Diaz to overtake German Pezzella - a distinct lack of pace has been a long-standing problem at the heart of the Argentine defense - and his body. A right footed shot inside the far post is opened to release it.
It was Argentina's turn to respond. ngel Di Maria came to cut from wide from the right, and with de Paul moving to the other flank the Argentine switched 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, winning the central midfield fight and giving Messi a podium. demanded to give So that balance can be struck.
Di Maria was immediately a lively presence. He lay on a loose Colombia pass to draw the keeper and set up Lautaro Martinez, but the excellent Wilmer Barrios came back to clear the shot from the line. Di Maria then slipped Messi to the left of the penalty area. Messi turned and shot, David Ospina was beaten but the ball came back from inside the pass and rolled to safety. Was Messi taking an eternal curse with his national team? As time ran out, he came up with a delightful chip that gave left-back Nico Tagliafico a chance at the away position. Tagliafico stretched but could not get clean contact and the ball went wide. And of late, Scoloni felt like punishment would be needed. He ran to introduce Sergio Aguero for the shootout, but before he could blow the referee's whistle the ups and downs came to a close.
Had it been a boxing match, Argentina could claim that their late rush would give them a point decision. But such ideas have no place in tournament football – nor does the fact that the Colombians manage to win only one of their six Copa games. It all came down to punishment.
As the Spanish found out earlier on Tuesday, winning two consecutive shootouts is tough, not least because the opposing keeper has recently had a chance to study where kicks are likely to go. Colombia centre-back Davinson Sanchez and Mina both hit the keeper's left side - just like they did against Uruguay on Saturday. That time he scored, this time Emiliano Martinez was waiting for him. And when he dived to the left once more to block Cardona's shot, it was all over.
Empty stadiums rarely celebrated as much as Argentina's players and coaching staff. They have the potential to win a title - and the Brazil vs Argentina match on Saturday night is a certainty.