Lionel Messi was forced to pull out of the 2024 Copa America final due to a nasty ankle injury. The Argentina captain appeared to be in unbearable pain after his right ankle got twisted while trying to recover the ball from Colombia’s Luis Diaz. Despite major swelling, Messi tried to continue but ultimately limped off the pitch in tears in the 63rd minute. He remained seated on the bench for the rest of the game. No team could break the deadlock in 90 minutes. Lautaro Martinez finally gave Argentina a breakthrough in the second half of the extra time to secure a last-gasp victory. Following the medal ceremony, Messi met his family and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo looked quite concerned about his ankle injury.
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A video featuring the moment was dropped on Instagram by Bein Sports. In the clip, Lionel Messi could be seen chatting with his kids, who were taking a look at his Copa America champion medal. That’s when Antonela came there and the husband-wife duo shared a warm hug.
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She then looked at Messi’s injured ankle and worriedly asked him something. Some other people also came forward to congratulate the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner before the video ended.
Lionel Messi earlier confirmed that it would be his last appearance at the Copa America. Despite struggling with the ankle injury, he joined his long-time dressing-room buddies Angel di Maria and Nicholas Otamendi to lift the trophy at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.
Lionel Messi later penned a long note on Instagram, sharing his excitement about the second-consecutive Copa America triumph. The Inter Miami star also shared an update about his injury in the post.
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“Copa America is over and the first thing I want to thank everyone for the messages and greetings. I’m doing well, thank God, and hopefully, soon I can be on the court again enjoying what I love doing most. We are a team and also a family, a spectacular group. Thanks to everyone who was supporting us, this national team has a lot of present and a lot of future, too,” Messi wrote.
It remains unclear how long Lionel Messi will remain sidelined owing to the injury issue. He is likely to miss a couple of matches for his club Inter Miami. Messi perhaps will not be able to feature in the upcoming MLS All-Star Game in Columbus, scheduled for July 24. If his recovery takes more time, the 37-year-old may have to skip Inter Miami’s first two League Cup fixtures.
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