Argentina captain Lionel Messi couldn't control his emotions after he was forced to be subbed due to injury during the Copa America 2024 Final against Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida's Miami Gardens on Monday, July 15.
Argentina and Colombia held on to each other as the first half of the title clash went goalless. In the second half, neither of the sides conceded a goal as the final went into extra time. However, in the 65th minute of the match, Lionel Messi suffered an injury to his ankle and limped towards the dugout after he was substituted by Nicolas Gonzalez.
In a video that went viral on social media, Lionel Messi was spotted crying inconsolably in the dugout as his ankle was wrapped in ice. Messi kept his hands on his eye as the tears were streaming down his face.
In another video, Lionel Messi can be seen removing the ice wrapped on his injured ankle and it looked completely swollen ankle as he was sitting in the dugout with pained expression. His disappointment is visible on his face as he is unable to continue playing in the crucial match.
After Messi walked off the field due to injury, Argentina continued to put on a good show against Colombia. The thrilling title clash went into extra time after dramatic 90 minutes of regular play, where the both sides were engaged in fierce competition to win the coveted Copa America trophy.
Lionel Messi wins his 2nd Copa America triumph
Argentina legend Lionel Messi won his second Copa America title, thanks to a late goal by his teammate Lautaro Martinez in extra time in the Final against Colombia.
In the extra time, Argentina players were leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the Final wouldn't go into the penalty shootout. In the 112th minute, Argentina dugout and the crowd went berserk as Martinez found a goal after a great assist by Giovani Lo Celso to help the defending champion take a 1-0 lead over Colombia.
With eight minutes left and five minutes of extra time in the final, Argentina continued to hold on to the lead as they didn't let Colombia to equalize.
With this triumph, Argentina won a record 16 Copa America titles, shattered previous record by Uruguay, who won 15 titles. Lionel Messi won his third major international tournament after winning the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumphs.
