In the final moments of Sunday’s Copa América showdown versus Colombia, Lionel Messi suffered a significant ankle injury, forcing him to leave the game.
After tumbling in the 63rd minute, Messi quickly signaled to the bench for a replacement and limped off the playing field.
The severity of Messi’s injury became evident when analyzed in slow motion, with new camera angles emphasizing its seriousness.
Upon reaching the bench, the emotional weight of the injury consumed Messi, and he was seen in tears.
Substituted in the 66th minute for Nicolás González in a tied match, Messi observed from the sidelines as his teammates advanced.
Even in his absence, Argentina secured a 1-0 victory, credited to a goal by Lautaro Martínez in extra time, as reported by ESPN.
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Lionel Messi Suffers Swollen Right Ankle
After the distressing non-contact injury that left Messi tearful on the bench, his troubles persisted.
Television broadcasts displayed Messi with ice on his noticeably swollen right ankle.
While the exact details of the injury were initially unclear, the visible swelling around his ankle indicated substantial damage.
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