Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Colombia, securing his second consecutive Copa America title. However, the triumph was overshadowed by a concerning injury to the Argentine star. Messi was taken off near the hour mark after suffering a noncontact injury while running on the pitch. The forward immediately signaled to the bench and went to the ground, remaining there for several minutes as the medical staff attended to him.
Upon standing, Messi removed his right boot, revealing a severe injury. His right ankle was swollen to the size of a ball, as shown in a clip circulating on social media. As he walked off the field, the 37-year-old took off his captain’s armband and threw his shoe to the ground in frustration. An emotional Messi was then shown covering his face and sobbing on the bench.
Despite the injury, Messi appeared to be in good spirits after the game. He clapped and laughed with his teammates and lifted the trophy alongside Nicolás Otamendi and Ángel Di María. Messi had been dealing with leg discomfort throughout much of the tournament and had missed Argentina’s group stage finale.
Messi’s night ended early during the Copa America final, but his leadership and skill had already helped secure Argentina’s record 16th Copa America title. Although he was limping after the game, his dedication and emotional investment in the match were clear, further solidifying his status as one of football’s greatest players.
