(Halifax) For Zachary Shaffelburg, watching his younger brother Jacob shine in Canada’s first-ever Copa América soccer tournament feels like “an accomplishment for the whole family.”
Hailing from Port Williams, Nova Scotia, a small town in the Annapolis Valley, Jacob Shaffelburg, 24, turned heads as a second-half substitute against Peru on June 25 when he assisted teammate Jonathan David for the game’s only goal. Last Friday, Shaffelburg scored Canada’s only goal in regulation against Venezuela in the quarterfinals before winning on penalties.
His recent performances on the field have earned him the nickname “Maritime Messi,” in reference to world superstar Lionel Messi. The Argentine will face Canada in the semifinals on Tuesday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“Even when he was really young, he was hitting hard shots at my friends who were trying to get in front of the net,” Shaffelburg’s older brother said in an interview Monday. “He’s worked really hard to get to this point. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Shaffelburg is the only Nova Scotian competing in this year’s Copa América, a tournament held every four years among 16 countries from South America, North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The Team Canada forward left his home province at the age of 15 to attend Berkshire School, a prep school in Massachusetts, before making the jump to the professional ranks with Toronto FC’s academy. The midfielder currently plays for Nashville SC in Major League Soccer (MLS).
He’s not the only member of the Shaffelburg family who loves soccer. His older brother also left Nova Scotia at age 15 to play at an academy in the United States before joining the national youth league. His sister Jessica is also a strong player, Zachary added. He credits her with influencing Jacob’s early development.
“She didn’t spare Jacob when she faced him. All the difficulties he encountered in this tournament, he had already encountered with his sister when he was younger.”
After his assist against Peru, Shaffelburg was visited by Sidney Crosby in the locker room. He later shared a photo with the Nova Scotia hockey hero on social media.
Zachary hopes his brother’s prowess on the field will inspire soccer players across the province.
“When I was a kid, it wasn’t really something you thought was possible, so now it’s nice to have Jacob at this level and to see him with a guy like Crosby, because they both showcase what we value a lot in Nova Scotia – which is sometimes to our detriment: modesty,” he said.
“Nationally, there hasn’t been a lot of attention paid to Nova Scotia because there’s an assumption there’s no one good enough for the next level,” he added.
Zachary will be among the spectators on Tuesday night for the semi-final against Argentina. He has booked an open-ended flight to the United States, hoping his trip will end only after the final.