Argentina provide update on Lionel Messi ankle injury during Copa America final

Argentina continued their dominance in football by lifting the 2024 Copa America.

Serie A top scorer Lautaro Martinez extra-time goal was enough for Argentina to seal a 1-0 victory over Columbia.

However, Lionel Messi was forced to leave the pitch after suffering an ankle injury as he was physically unable to continue. The former Barcelona star was forced out of the final just over an hour in and was seen holding his right ankle, having removed his boot and sock, whilst supporting his teammates from the bench.

Lionel Messi resting his injured ankle. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

“Leo has something that everyone should have. He’s the best in history and, even with an ankle like that, he doesn’t want to go off,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said afterwards. “It’s not because he’s selfish, but because he doesn’t want to let his teammates down. He was born to be on a pitch.”

Argentina’s 2024 Copa America success was Messi’s third international success in the space of four years after previously win the tournament in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022.

Though its still unknown how long Messi will be sidelined, the 37-year-old’s club side, Inter Miami, will be eager to see him return in good shape.

Inter Miami  are midway through their 2024 season and playing at the Copa America has already seen Messi miss five games since his last appearances at the start of June.