Messi in tears after leaving Copa America final with injury

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi was forced out of the Copa América final against Colombia on Sunday, limping off before later breaking down in tears on the bench.

Messi was actually injured both in the first and second half, but it was his second injury that knocked him out of the match.

With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Messi received the ball in the box and saw the ball run away from him toward the end line. As the 37-year-old tried to keep the ball in play, Santiago Arias slid in with a challenge and rolled over Messi’s ankle on the follow-through.

Messi received treatment on the pitch for several minutes, but was able to return to the pitch after he limped back to midfield.

All appeared to be well until the 64th minute, when Messi was chasing after Colombia’s Luis Díaz and abruptly slipped onto the pitch without any contact.

This time, Messi’s knew his night was done immediately, signaling to the bench that he needed to be substituted.

Messi did manage to walk off under his own power and was later seen in tears on the bench, knowing he may have played his final major-tournament match for Argentina.

The injury will once again lead to scrutiny of the much-criticized playing surfaces at the Copa América, which have already led to multiple injuries. In similar fashion to Messi, Mexico captain Edson Álvarez went down with a non-contact injury while chasing down a play in his side’s tournament opener.

Even with Messi out, Argentina would still go on to win the game 1-0 thanks to an extra-time winner from substitute Lautaro Martínez.