Lionel Messi, the superstar forward for Argentina, suffered an injury during the Copa América final against Colombia, causing him to leave the match in tears. The incident occurred in the 64th minute, with Messi experiencing a non-contact injury that required him to be evaluated by trainers on the sideline. He eventually limped off the field after removing his right shoe and captain’s armband, which was passed on to his close friend Ángel Di María.
This injury comes after Messi had been dealing with a right groin/adductor issue throughout the tournament, which had sidelined him for one of Argentina’s group stage matches. Despite his struggles with injuries, Messi had been a key player for his team, scoring one goal in the tournament and playing full 90-minute matches in the quarterfinal and semifinal.
The sight of Messi in tears on the bench was undoubtedly unsettling for Argentina fans, who have been speculating about the star player’s future with the national team. While there have been rumors of Messi’s retirement following the 2022 World Cup, he has expressed a desire to continue playing for Argentina in the upcoming years.
Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has emphasized that the team will support Messi in whatever decision he makes regarding his future. Regardless of when Messi decides to retire, it is clear that his impact on the sport and his country will be long-lasting.
As Messi recovers from this latest setback, fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting updates on his condition and hoping for a speedy recovery. In the meantime, the football community stands with Messi, recognizing his talent, dedication, and resilience on and off the field.