MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Lionel Messi’s tears did not final lengthy.
Within the sixty fourth minute of Sunday’s Copa América last at Onerous Rock Stadium – which led to Argentina topping Colombia 1-0 to defend its title – the famous person ahead went down with an obvious non-contact proper ankle damage, forcing him to depart the match. Colombian defender Johan Mojica instantly came to visit to see if he was OK, after which each gamers rapidly motioned over to the sideline for trainers to return out.
After a couple of minutes of analysis, Messi took off his proper shoe and limped off the sphere. He eliminated his captain’s armband — which was then given to shut buddy Ángel Di María, who was taking part in in his last match earlier than retiring — and was changed by Nico Gonzalez.
TV cameras caught the beautiful scene of Messi bawling, his face buried in his palms whereas sitting on the bench.
Messi hates to depart a recreation and barely does, so when he comes out of a recreation, it is vital. After the match, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni additional defined why Messi.
“Leo is the best participant in historical past,” Scaloni mentioned. “He by no means needs to depart the pitch. He has a swollen ankle and needs to maintain on taking part in. I desire these forms of gamers.
“His teammates see that he is 30 one thing [years old] and he needs to contribute. He needs to play not as a result of he has an ego. He needs to play as a result of he does not need to go away his teammates. He does not need to go away them on the pitch, even when he is in that situation. He does not need to abandon his teammates. He does not really feel good when he has to depart the pitch. He was born to be on pitch.”
Whereas Messi’s feelings have been painful, they have been transient.
With the sport tied 0-0 in stoppage time, Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez scored the go-ahead aim for Argentina, clinching victory and a little bit of historical past. With this specific title, La Albiceleste grew to become the primary group since Spain to win three straight main match championships. La Roja gained the 2008 Euros, 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros. Earlier on Sunday, Spain beat England to win this yr’s match. Argentina has now gained the 2021 Copa América, 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa.
And Messi, taking part in Sunday in entrance of his adopted hometown of Miami, did the latter whereas not being 100% wholesome. It was no secret the 37-year-old wasn’t at his finest this summer season. He sat out a number of matches for Inter Miami this season after which missed Argentina’s third group stage match vs. Peru with a proper groin/adductor damage. Then within the thirty sixth minute of the ultimate, he beat Santiago Arias to the top line and tried to get a cross into the field, however landed awkwardly on his proper ankle and was grabbing it as he rolled out of bounds. Messi wasn’t the identical after that, and the tweak within the second half did him in for good.
Argentina was capable of pull off the win with out him in prime kind, although. In actual fact, they’ve primarily been doing that every one match as Messi hasn’t been the damaging scoring menace he as soon as was. He uncharacteristically missed a penalty kick within the quarterfinal shootout vs. Ecuador and squandered too many probabilities in entrance of aim in each the semifinal and last. Martinez gained the Golden Boot with 5 targets; Messi scored solely as soon as – an insurance coverage aim within the semifinal vs. Canada.
Ever since Argentina gained the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there’s been hypothesis as to when Messi will retire. Whereas there are conflicting stories on the market, he is appeared decided to play once more for Argentina in 2026 when the World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Plus, it appears implausible that the viral pictures of Messi’s swollen ankle would be the final time he is seen in a nationwide group jersey. Scaloni joked after the final match that he would “by no means ben those to shut the door” on Messi’s profession, and that “he might be with our group for so long as he needs to be. And if he needs to retire, however nonetheless come and dangle round, that will be nice.”
Sunday was additionally Di Maria’s second, taking part in in his last recreation earlier than getting into retirment. And the 2 of them, plus Nicolas Otamendi, hoisted the Copa América trophy all collectively whereas their teammates jumped up and down behind them.
Messi jumped up and down a little bit bit too, although gingerly in order to not make his ankle flare up.
However he’ll have time to repair that later. Two full years in the event you’re counting all the way down to the following World Cup.
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA At this time and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Sturdy Like a Girl,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her on Twitter @LakenLitman.
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Lionel Messi
Argentina
Copa América
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