Lionel Messi left Sunday’s Copa América final against Colombia in tears after suffering an ankle injury in the second half.
By game’s end, he was all smiles as Argentina prevailed, 1-0 without its star forward thanks to a goal in the second half of extra time from Lautaro Martínez.
Messi fell to the turf in the 63rd minute and immediately signaled to the bench.
Messi goes down due to non-contact injury.pic.twitter.com/7sSrwfsP0f
Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 15, 2024
He limped to the sideline, but his Copa América was over. Messi left the game in the 66th minute for Nicolás González with the game in a scoreless tie.
Lionel Messi has exited the Copa America final after appearing to suffer an injury. (via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/R2H4ynnTat
Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 15, 2024
Messi broke down in tears on the bench as the moment settled in.
Messi in tears after leaving the match (via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/prf6oS53GY
Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 15, 2024
The precise nature of his injury wasn’t initially clear, but he was seen on the bench with his right ankle wrapped in ice.
A welt on his ankle was revealed when the wrap was removed.
A look at Messi’s ankle (via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/087zBeGTPG
Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 15, 2024
Messi appeared to initially sustain an injury in the first half after a tackle on the baseline. He grabbed his right ankle after the fall, but returned to the game.
Another look at the play that caused Messi to go down ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/K9S0TZ7F0S
FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 15, 2024
Messi, 37, has been bothered by leg injuries that have limited him for much of the year and injured his right thigh during group play against Chile. He sat Argentina’s group stage finale against Peru with Argentina having already clinched a spot in the tournament’s knockout round.
Argentina entered Sunday’s final as the reigning Copa América and World Cup champions. A record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as the world’s best player, Messi smiled from the bench as Argentina secured its 16th Copa América title, breaking a tie with Uruguay for the most all time. Colombia was denied its second.
ARGENTINA CELEBRATES WITH THE TROPHY pic.twitter.com/PptdTB6eVP
Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 15, 2024
Sunday’s Copa América final was enveloped in chaos before it started. Fans at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium rushed the gates and broke down barriers to gain entry whether or not they had tickets. Authorities temporarily opened the stadium gates in an effort to alleviate injuries amid “serious concern of fans being crushed in an attempt to enter.”