From tears to triumph: Lionel Messi once again leaves Copa América as a champion
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Lionel Messi's tears didn't last long.
In the 64th minute of Sunday's Copa América final at Hard Rock Stadium – which ended in Argentina topping Colombia 1-0 to defend its title – the superstar forward went down with an apparent non-contact right ankle injury, forcing him to leave the match. Colombian defender Johan Mojica immediately came over to see if he was OK, and then both players quickly motioned over to the sideline for trainers to come out.
After a few minutes of evaluation, Messi took off his right shoe and limped off the field. He removed his captain's armband — which was then given to close friend Ángel Di María, who was playing in his final match before retiring — and was replaced by Nico Gonzalez.
TV cameras caught the stunning scene of Messi bawling, his face buried in his hands while sitting on the bench.
Messi hates to leave a game and rarely does, so when he comes out of a game, it's significant. After the match, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni further explained why Messi.
"Leo is the greatest player in history," Scaloni said. "He never wants to leave the pitch. He has a swollen ankle and wants to keep on playing. I prefer those types of players.
"His teammates see that he's 30 something [years old] and he wants to contribute. He wants to play not because he has an ego. He wants to play because he doesn't want to leave his teammates. He doesn't want to leave them on the pitch, even when he's in that condition. He doesn't want to abandon his teammates. He doesn't feel good when he has to leave the pitch. He was born to be on pitch."
While Messi's emotions were painful, they were brief.
With the game tied 0-0 in stoppage time, Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez scored the go-ahead goal for Argentina, clinching victory and a bit of history. With this particular title, La Albiceleste became the first team since Spain to win three straight major tournament championships. La Roja won the 2008 Euros, 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros. Earlier on Sunday, Spain beat England to win this year's tournament. Argentina has now won the 2021 Copa América, 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa.
And Messi, playing Sunday in front of his adopted hometown of Miami, did the latter while not being 100% healthy. It was no secret the 37-year-old wasn't at his best this summer. He sat out multiple matches for Inter Miami this season and then missed Argentina's third group stage match vs. Peru with a right groin/adductor injury. Then in the 36th minute of the final, he beat Santiago Arias to the end line and tried to get a cross into the box, but landed awkwardly on his right ankle and was grabbing it as he rolled out of bounds. Messi wasn't the same after that, and the tweak in the second half did him in for good.
Argentina was able to pull off the win without him in top form, though. In fact, they've essentially been doing that all tournament as Messi hasn't been the dangerous scoring threat he once was. He uncharacteristically missed a penalty kick in the quarterfinal shootout vs. Ecuador and squandered too many chances in front of goal in both the semifinal and final. Martinez won the Golden Boot with five goals; Messi scored only once – an insurance goal in the semifinal vs. Canada.
Ever since Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there's been speculation as to when Messi will retire. While there are conflicting reports out there, he's appeared determined to play again for Argentina in 2026 when the World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Plus, it seems implausible that the viral photos of Messi's swollen ankle will be the last time he's seen in a national team jersey. Scaloni joked after the last match that he would "never been the ones to close the door" on Messi's career, and that "he can be with our team for as long as he wants to be. And if he wants to retire, but still come and hang around, that would be great."
Sunday was also Di Maria's moment, playing in his final game before entering retirment. And the two of them, plus Nicolas Otamendi, hoisted the Copa América trophy all together while their teammates jumped up and down behind them.
Messi jumped up and down a little bit too, though gingerly so as to not make his ankle flare up.
But he'll have time to fix that later. Two full years if you're counting down to the next World Cup.
Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her on Twitter @LakenLitman.
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