Lionel Messi, the Argentina star whose mere presence brings thousands to a stadium, was taken out of La Albiceleste's Copa America final clash with Colombian the 65th minute after appearing to suffer a non-contact leg injury.
The 37-year-old wasn't able to conjure up his usual magic for much of the first half, or much of the tournament, blotted in the final by a resolute system of man-marking enacted by Colombian manager Nestor Lorenzo.
Just as he appeared destined to get himself into the game, however, Messi was felled by an untimely ailment. The Argentina star was initially injured while attempting to send in a cross along the byline in the 36th minute.
He attempted to soldier on but didn't look himself, and despite coming out for the second half, he saw his dreams of contributing to a second Copa America title turn into ashes. While his side triumphed in his absence as Lautaro Martinez played hero, Messi is feeling the consequences of the injury.
Here's what you need to know as Messi will now miss multiple matches for Inter Miami following the conclusion of the Copa America.
MORE: A full list of Lionel Messi's injury history across his entire club and international career
Lionel Messi injury news, update as Inter Miami star to miss matches
Following Argentina's Copa America conquest, Messi returned to his club side, Inter Miami. According to manager Tata Martino, he's miss the club's next two games. However, he doesn't believe Messi's injury to be too serious.
"Leo’s ankle is..well, you all saw the images," Martino said of Messi’s swollen ankle, according to Michelle Kaufmann of the Miami Herald . "He had a sprain. There will be further testing to determine the gravity of the injury."
"No, no..I don’t want to speculate further, but he had a sprain," Martino said when asked if he thought the injury was serious. "He has to have more tests and wait for the results. Walter (Insaurralde), our kinesiologist, is the same one used by the Argentine national team, he is always very cautious in his diagnoses until all the testing is done."
The news means that Messi will miss the upcoming midweek MLS match against Toronto FC on July 17, and the weekend league game against the Chicago Fire on Saturday, both home games. Once those matches are concluded, MLS play will pause to allow the Leagues Cup to begin.
Inter Miami, who are defending champions of the competition thanks to Messi's heroics in his club debut last summer, open their Leagues Cup slate against Mexican side Puebla on Saturday, July 27 with another group game against Liga MX giants Tigres on August 3.
MORE: A recap of the crowd disturbances that delayed the Copa America final
How was Lionel Messi injured in Copa America final?
Just past the half-hour mark of the 2024 Copa America final, Lionel Messi raced on the ball vertically looking to whip in a cross. As the ball sped towards the end line, Messi had to contort his body to send the ball in under pressure from Colombia full-back Santiago Arias, and it put his plant leg under extreme pressure.
The ankle buckled and rolled, leaving Messi in a heap on the ground. In the moment, it was difficult to see what had happened, with many believing Messi had somehow been injured by slight contact from Arias, but eagle-eyed viewers noticed he was grabbing his right ankle, not the left which had contacted the defender.
After a short spell on the canvas, medical personnel tended to the diminutive playmaker. He managed to eventually continue, but didn't look himself. The extended halftime due to Shakira's concert surely didn't help things, and while he attempted to soldier on after the break, he eventually knew his race was run.
MORE: Recap the 2024 Copa America final as Lautaro Martinez's winner gives Argentina title over Colombia
Messi left the game to a raucous applause. He sobbed as he sat in the dugout, seemingly overcome with emotions.
While questions grew during the match about what his injury could have been as many still had not caught the ankle twist, some answers were gained when images circulated of Messi's ankle swelling to an alarming size on the bench.
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