In a heartbreaking moment during the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia, soccer superstar Lionel Messi suffered a troubling ankle injury that left him in tears.
The 37-year-old icon was forced to exit the match in the 65th minute after taking a fall that appeared to happen as he was trying to run as fast as he could. Messi “just tripped over himself,” according to the report, and immediately called for assistance from the trainers.
With his captain’s armband removed and his right cleat off, Messi was seen slowly walking off the pitch, visibly distraught. Cameras later showed the severity of the swelling in Messi’s right ankle, which had become severely inflamed.
The injury occurred earlier in the match, during the 36th minute of the first half. Messi had been chasing a ball before it went out of bounds, and as he planted his right foot, it bent in an awkward position just before he was able to make the kick. Messi grimaced in pain and rolled over several times on the field as he was evaluated by the trainers.
Despite the initial concern, Messi was able to return to the game and continue playing. However, the recurrence of the injury in the second half ultimately forced him to be substituted, with Nicolás González taking his place on the pitch.
Messi was later seen on the Argentina sideline with an ice pack on his right ankle, covering his face while visibly upset. The heartbreaking scene was a somber moment in what may have been Messi’s final major international tournament.
The severity of Messi’s injury and its impact on his future participation in the Copa America final remains to be seen. Fans and fellow players alike will be anxiously awaiting updates on the condition of the soccer icon as he looks to recover from this setback.
