It was a happy ending for Lionel Messi and Argentina on Sunday night, but there was a stage where it appeared as if things were going nightmarishly wrong. The 37-year-old was forced off with an injury after just 65 minutes, with the scores level.
Messi twisted his ankle badly in the first half, with the images – not for the squeamish – showing his foot pointing the wrong way.
La lesión de Messi en cámara lenta.
ES SOLO! El tobillo derecho que es la pierna de apoyo, cuando asienta el pie, se traba en el césped y se tuerce solo!
Luego el contacto de Arias es sobre la pierna izquierda y no es la que adolece el astro argentino.
Volverá al 2do tiempo? pic.twitter.com/on50Tcdrjj
— Eduardo Erazo Veloz (@eduardoerazov) July 15, 2024
IMPACTANTE: Así tiene el tobillo derecho Messi. #CopaAmérica pic.twitter.com/cd3AFIEsVr
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) July 15, 2024
Remarkably, Messi carried on playing into the second half, but after his ankle buckled under him again just after the hour mark, he was inconsolable on the bench sobbing his heart out.
I didn‘t think a man who has everything, literally everything, could still care so much about an award he‘s already won. I respect the passion, Messi is truly the definition of football pic.twitter.com/cw83DQXBjH
— – (@MusialaEra) July 15, 2024
Fortunately for him and Argentina, Lautaro Martinez grabbed the winner in extra time to give Argentina a 1-0 win over Colombia. After the match, manager Lionel Scaloni said that he kept going because he feels dreadful leaving the pitch because of injury, and does not want to leave his teammates to battle without him.
— Messi World (@M10GOAT) July 15, 2024
Messi became the most decorated player in the history of the game with this Copa America, which will almost certainly be his last. The Barcelona legend will turn 41 during the next edition, and the question is now whether his hunger and body hold up for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
El abrazo entre Messi y Scaloni, qué hermoso todo.
— Messismo (@Messismo10) July 15, 2024
Messi calling di Maria and Otamendi over to lift the Copa America trophy with him 🏆
Forever humble 🙏 pic.twitter.com/JzobdnNXVY
— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) July 15, 2024
Leo Messi the moment Argentina won!
What it means 🥹♥️ pic.twitter.com/dZmIBcYVik
— Sara 🦋 (@SaraFCBi) July 15, 2024
