(Reuters) – Argentina's Lionel Messi was in tears after injury prevented him from finishing what was likely his final game for the country in a major tournament, but his teammates handed the captain his Copa America title on Sunday.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner hurt his ankle in the 36th minute of the final against Colombia but played on until the 66th minute, when he limped off the field in tears and on the bench with an ice pack wrapped around his swollen ankle.
The game was level at 0-0 when the 37-year-old was sent off but Argentina pressed on and Lautaro Martinez scored in extra time to win 1-0 and secure a record 16th Copa triumph.
Captain Messi lifted the trophy alongside long-time teammates Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi, both 36.
“Leo is the best player of all time. He doesn't want to leave the pitch, his ankle is swollen but he wants to keep playing,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters.
“I want his players and his teammates to know that he's in his 30s and wants to contribute to the team. He wants to play not because he's selfish or egotistical.”
“He wants to keep playing because he doesn't want to leave his teammates, he doesn't want to leave them on the pitch when he's in that condition… He feels bad when he has to leave the pitch and he was born to be on the pitch.”
Messi has hinted at retirement on a number of occasions in recent months and said this week that he and Argentina's veteran players were fighting “the last battle” in the Copa America.
“I know Leo (Messi) and I know how he thinks. He always wants to be there but the fact that he is part of this team is the best thing for us,” midfielder Rodrigo De Paul told TyC Sport.
“We are sad to see Fideo (Di Maria) leave but we are also happy because he is one of the few players who can say goodbye like this as a World Cup and Copa champion.”
(Reporting by Adi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
