Lionel Messi’s dream of securing a second consecutive Copa America title for Argentina came to a heart-wrenching end as he suffered a non-contact injury in the second half of the final against Colombia on Sunday.
Messi sustained the injury in the 64th minute when the match was still scoreless. The 37-year-old player appeared visibly emotional as he made his way to the bench. He had initially injured his ankle early in the match and received treatment for an extended period during the first half before continuing to play. However, when he fell again in the second half, he immediately signaled to the bench that something was wrong. Nicolás González was brought in to replace him.
Lionel Messi’s Struggles with Leg Injury
Messi has been grappling with a leg injury that has troubled him throughout this year’s tournament. He had to sit out Argentina’s group stage finale against Peru. His goal in the semi-final against Canada was his first of the tournament and the 109th of his career. Argentina has been striving to maintain their recent streak of success, which includes the 2021 Copa America title and the 2022 World Cup victory. Messi has been an integral part of the team’s dominance, and although his injury limited his participation in this year’s tournament, his presence has been vital in motivating Argentina and boosting his teammates’ confidence.
Argentina Faces Tough Challenge Without Messi
Without Messi, Argentina faces a tough challenge against a determined Colombia team, which is motivated to extend its recent unbeaten streak. Both teams struggled to gain momentum during regular time and were forced into extra time.
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