Suarez in tears after injury, could miss Copa America
MADRID --
Luis Suarez' participation in the Copa America Centenario is in doubt after the Uruguay striker left Spain's Copa del Rey final with an apparent muscle injury and in tears on Sunday.
Suarez is expected to undergo tests Monday to find out the extent of the right leg injury that forced him to limp off the pitch in the second half of the game against Sevilla at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid.
He was seen celebrating with the rest of his teammates after Barcelona won 2-0 in extra time to secure its second straight Copa title, but walked gingerly and at times still looked in pain.
On Twitter, Suarez showed optimism.
''Now we wait for the tests tomorrow,'' he said. ''I hope it's nothing so I can be with my national team next week. Thanks for the support.''
Cameras showed the striker crying on the bench after being substituted, with his teammates comforting him. A few times he covered his head with his jersey, looking desolate.
Uruguay's first Copa America game is on June 5 against Mexico. The 100th anniversary edition of the tournament will be held in the United States, the first edition staged outside South America.
The striker appeared to get hurt while going for a ball crossed to him inside the area early in the second half. He over-extended his right leg to try to reach the ball and immediately felt a strain on the back of his right leg.
He tried to continue for a bit but ended going to the ground and asked for medical assistance. Suarez walked off the pitch by himself in the 56th minute, very slowly and clearly in pain.
Barcelona was yet to provide any official information about the injury, only saying that it would be re-evaluated on Monday.
Suarez had been crucial to the team in the final stages of the season. He had scored 14 goals in the last five matches.
Suarez finished the season with 59 goals in all competitions and was the top scorer in the Spanish league with 40, five more than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.
