A distraught Lionel Messi was seen weeping on Argentina’s bench after being subbed off in the 64th minute of Sunday’s Copa America final against Colombia in Miami.
The moment was made all the more emotional due to likelihood that the 37-year-old is nearing the end of his legendary run with La Albiceleste.
‘Messi crying after a non-contact injury knocks him out of the game, perhaps his last for Argentina,’ NFL Network’s Rich Eisen wrote on X. ‘Crushing.’
‘Messi has given his country so much and is in absolute tears not to be on the field to provide Argentina with just one more win,’ added ESPN’s Herculez Gomez. ‘Let’s hope it’s not severe. Legend.’
Messi appeared to suffer a noncontact injury while running full speed on the pitch as defending champ Argentina remained in a scoreless match against Colombia.
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Messi immediately looked toward the Argentina bench as he went to the ground. He remained down for several minutes as trainers came out. He was helped to his feet and immediately took his shoe off his right foot.
As he walked off the field, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner took off his captains armband and threw his shoe to the ground in frustration. An emotional Messi was then shown covering his face, sobbing in his seat.
Messi went down in the first half after landing awkwardly when chasing a ball out of bounds. He rolled over several times as he grabbed at his lower right leg. Trainers worked on the area for a few minutes before helping him to his feet. He walked slowly toward the sideline before returning to the game.
Messi had been dealing with a leg injury and discomfort through much of the tournament and missed Argentina’s group stage finale. He had one shot attempt in the first half Sunday.
It’s unclear if field conditions – a concern throughout the tournament – played a factor in his injury.
Regardless, an injury to Messi would further tarnish a brutal day for Copa America and its organizing body, CONMEBOL.
The hours before the scheduled 8pm kickoff descended into absolute chaos on Sunday in Miami as throngs of supporters were nearly crushed outside the Hard Rock Stadium gates before hundreds of fans forced their way through the perimeter.
In response, organizers decided to open all gates to avoid a potentially dangerous stampede while pushing back the 8pm kickoff to 9:15pm. When it was deemed safe, security resumed the normal entry procedures at all gates, according to stadium officials.
More than a dozen people have been arrested and many others were seen receiving medical treatment from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, USA Today reported. In one violent incident, a man wearing what appeared to be a reporter’s credential walked through the media entrance, only to be tackled and handcuffed by officers.
The havoc began hours before the scheduled kickoff as fans became frustrated with delays caused by an increased security presence in the intense 90-degree heat. Some attendees, including children, could be heard crying in pain as throngs of supporters crowded around the entrance. Ultimately scores of fans in yellow Colombian jerseys forced open the metal gates and ran onto the stadium grounds as Miami-Dade police tried desperately to contain the situation.
Later, spectators were seen standing in the aisles before the game as the massive crowd appeared to outnumber the available seats at Hard Rock Stadium. Univision estimated that an additional 7,000 fans were present on top of the capacity crowd of 65,000. And in one confounding scene, Colombian fans were recorded crawling through air vents to gain access to the stands.