Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

What’s the dinner conversation like these days at Sergio Agüero’s house when his in-laws visit?

Maybe they talk about his father-in-law’s latest auto mishap, which occurred earlier this week when his car ran into a bus. Or they can discuss the two goals Agüero scored that day against Costa Rica — one opportunistic, the other clinical — to help Argentina earn a quarterfinal berth in the Copa América?

Both, said Agüero, the young Argentine striker who leads the South American championship scorers’ table and has this week finally stepped out of some all-consuming shadows that have long shaded his soccer career.

Every talented young attacking player in Argentina is, helplessly, compared with Diego Maradona, the man some Argentines call God. But not every forward has to stare at God across the dinner table: Agüero is married to Maradona’s daughter, Giannina, and is the father of Maradona’s grandson, Benjamin (who even at a young age bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Maradona). For all the pressure on Lionel Messi to perform for his country as well as he does for his club, it’s the son-in-law of God who can’t escape it.

But it has been Agüero, not Messi, who has powered the Albiceleste to a matchup with Uruguay in Santa Fe on Saturday night — and a chance to win a major international title on home soil.

Coming off the bench in Argentina’s first game against Bolivia, Agüero rescued his team from potentially devastating embarrassment. His thunder-strike in the 75th minute salvaged a 1-1 tie. But still, Coach Sergio Batista wasn’t convinced, and said he would return Agüero to the bench for the second game against Colombia.

“We have the chance to have players of very good levels provide different things during the course of the Copa,” Batista said after the opening match. “There will be chances for all the players.”

But the chances for Agüero would be limited while he was again asked to sit and wait.

It’s curious logic: who is to know which 20 minutes of the game will be Agüero’s best? Perhaps an opening salvo from the lurking forward who uses bursts of speed to season his savvy and instinctive play could come early, giving Argentina a cushion it has not enjoyed since June 27, 2010.

If Agüero can score in a flash, why endure 60 or 70 minutes of Ezequiel Lavezzi’s recent futility?

After a dismal 0-0 tie with Colombia in Argentina’s second game (few real highlights here), Batista did not repeat his folly. Agüero started against Costa Rica, and rewarded his coach for his late coming to faith. Agüero was opportunistic where Gonzalo Higuaín was profligate. In situations where Carlos Tévez had faltered, Agüero executed. His two goals sealed a victory and, as he told Clarin, the Argentine daily, buoyed his and his teammates confidence.

“The victory meant a lot because it was done by the team,” Agüero said, generously. “We played well and we found the goal. It’s good it fell to me. I’m happy with the team.”

Agüero’s first goal against Costa Rica came from Fernando Gago’s rebound, and the second was provided by one of his favorite partners on the field, a man he pointed to in gratitude and admiration after scoring, generously mouthing, it was all him: Messi.

At this tournament, Agüero has also stepped out of the shadow of his peers, including Messi, who has said he needs to feel the love to play well. Agüero just needed the opportunity.

Batista confirmed that he would start the same 11 players against Uruguay on Saturday as he did against Costa Rica. That Selección is a talented and familiar group. Nine of the players on Argentina’s Copa América roster played together on Argentina’s youth championship teams, with Messi and Agüero often Nos. 1 and 2 in a scintillating offense.

In 2005, Argentina’s juniors won the under-20 World Cup in the Netherlands, and Messi was honored as the tournament’s top goal scorer and best player. Two years later, in Canada, Agüero was the leading goal scorer and tournament M.V.P. after Messi had graduated to the senior national team. Argentina won its second straight youth title in 2007, with Ángel Di María, Ever Banega and the goalkeeper Sergio Romero earning valuable experience. Then in 2008, Argentina won the gold medal at the Beijing Games; two goals by Agüero sank Brazil in the semifinals before Di María’s goal sealed the gold against Nigeria in a sweltering Bird’s Nest stadium.

Now, Agüero’s latest achievement at the Copa has also helped him step out of the shadow of speculation. The subject of numerous multi-million-dollar transfer rumors over the past year (Chelsea, Manchester City, Juventus, Real Madrid), Agüero confirmed the other day that he would not return to Atlético Madrid, where last season he scored 27 goals in all competitions. (He had 16 the season before for the club, having formed a potent partnership with Deigo Forlán, the Uruguayan striker who will aim to scuttle Argentina on Saturday.)

“I spoke with the club and issued a statement, now my representatives are negotiating my exit from the club,” Agüero told ESPN. “I do not know when the deal will come but I want to know all about it when Copa América is over.

“I will not return to Atlético, that is clear. I need a breath of fresh air.”

Agüero can also enjoy the sun shining directly on him, no shadow dogging him, while he breathes in deeply his success.