Messi, Argentina puts on a show in 4-0 rout of USMNT

Wondolowski was replaced just before the second half by 17-year-old Christian Pulisic, the Borussia Dortmund prodigy from Hersey, Pa. Argentina, however, merely added to its lead five minutes after halftime.

Lavezzi whipped a ball into the box where Gonzalo Higuain had timed his run perfectly. Guzan blocked Higuain's first shot but gave up a rebound that the Napoli man easily tapped home for a 3-0 cushion in the 50th minute.

Messi was not finished. He pounced on a lazy giveaway deep in the U.S. third and played an incredible cutback through the box to an awaiting Higuain for the striker's second goal and a 4-0 Argentine lead.

Read MoreHOUSTON – The FIFA world rankings sometimes don't accurately measure the ability and potential of a national team. But no one will make the mistake of questioning Argentina's No. 1 status. Not after the display of magnificence a sold-out NRG Stadium crowd witnessed on Tuesday.

[ What lopsided loss means for USMNT | USA-Argentina Live | Match stats ]

The Argentines played like the best team in the world in their Copa America Centenario semifinal against the United States, and much of that had to do with the best soccer player on the planet doing whatever he wanted.

Lionel Messi continued to make himself at home in this one-off tournament to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the South American championship. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner set up the first and final goals and scored one of his own on a spectacular free kick to lead Argentina to Sunday's final with a resounding 4-0 victory over the U.S.

[ COPA AMERICA | Predictions | Scores/Schedule | Standings | Teams ]

Messi's goal moved him to the top of Argentina's all-time scoring list, surpassing the 54 scored by the great Gabriel Batistuta. The victory earned La Albiceleste its third straight final in a major tournament after finishing runner-up at the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America.

The Americans, despite their disappointing performance, get to play one more game. They face the loser of Wednesday's Colombia-Chile semifinal on Saturday in the Copa America third-place game in Glendale, Ariz.

"Anytime you play a big game against a team like that, one of the best in the world, you have to be … I wouldn't use the word perfect, but you have to be on top of every little thing in a good way," U.S. captain Michael Bradley said.

Messi needed just three minutes to make his mark. A sliding clearance by Fabian Johnson rolled the ball to the top of the penalty area where Messi calmly sized up the situation and chipped the ball over the U.S. defense to the back post. His pass found Lavezzi, whose header back across goal caught goalkeeper Brad Guzan too far out of his net for a 1-0 lead.

Dream start for Argentina, as Lionel Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi combine for the opener. #USAvARG #MyCopaColors https://t.co/6AdO7NBAOU

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2016

"After that early goal, our players could feel that they are just, probably in every position on the field, just better than we are," U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.

"After we went 1-0 down, we had far too much respect," he added. "They [the Argentines] smell that. They feel that. And they start to play their game wilth all the quality that they have."

The entire Argentine team, not just Messi, was here to put on a show, complete with backheels and stylish (and effortless) ball possession that made the Americans look helpless. Argentina ended up with 68 percent possession in the first half.

But there's no better showman in the sport of soccer than Messi. And he gave the sellout crowd and the TV audience a memory of individual brilliance they will never forget.

After Messi got tackled to the ground by Chris Wondolowski, a surprising selection among the U.S. starting eleven, Argentina's No. 10 patiently stood over the ball to take the free kick. He had already scored from a dead-ball situation in his tournament debut en route to a hat trick in a 5-0 win over Panama.

That free kick was exceptional. But the one he struck in the 32nd minute was even better – unstoppable, really – as Messi, from about 25 yards out, lifted the ball over the U.S. wall as if it were controlled by strings or remote control and into the top right corner for a 2-0 Argentina lead.

There's just no stopping free kicks like these. Take a bow, Leo Messi. ? #USAvARG #MyCopaColors https://t.co/9HeE3OqVMf

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2016

Wondolowski was replaced just before the second half by 17-year-old Christian Pulisic, the Borussia Dortmund prodigy from Hersey, Pa. Argentina, however, merely added to its lead five minutes after halftime.

Lavezzi whipped a ball into the box where Gonzalo Higuain had timed his run perfectly. Guzan blocked Higuain's first shot but gave up a rebound that the Napoli man easily tapped home for a 3-0 cushion in the 50th minute.

Messi was not finished. He pounced on a lazy giveaway deep in the U.S. third and played an incredible cutback through the box to an awaiting Higuain for the striker's second goal and a 4-0 Argentine lead.