LIONEL MESSI was left heartbroken and in floods of tears after an injury forced him to come off in the Copa America final.

The Argentina captain, 37, ended up lifting his second successive Copa America trophy on Sunday night as Lautaro Martinez’s extra-time goal handed the world champions a 1-0 win over Colombia in Florida.

 

7Lionel Messi was seen crying on the bench after being forced to come offCredit: X

7He was replaced midway through the second half of the Copa America finalCredit: X

7His ankle had shockingly swollen up after his awkward fallCredit: X

But it was a rollercoaster of a night for the Barcelona icon after he hobbled off in the 66th minute.

Messi awkwardly tripped and went down while chasing the ball in the first half but returned to the pitch following medical attention.

However, midway through the second period he was unable to continue and cut a devastated figure as he was replaced by Nicolas Gonzalez.

Once he got to the bench, Messi began crying uncontrollably as the realisation he could no longer help his team-mates set in.

It is also expected to be his last game at a major tournament for Argentina.

Later in the match, the cameras panned to his right ankle after he had taken his sock off and the swelling was a shocking sight.

But that pain will have subsided somewhat when Inter Milan striker Martinez bagged the winning goal eight minutes from the end of extra time.

Messi then went up to lift the trophy with the rest of his Argentina team-mates as the squad celebrated yet another triumph.

7Lautaro Martinez scored the winner in extra-timeCredit: Reuters

7Martinez was the heroCredit: AP

7Argentina ended up winning the final as Messi lifted his second successive Copa America trophyCredit: Getty

It is the country’s third successive major tournament victory following the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup.

Earlier this week, Messi confirmed this was to be his last Copa America, having already lifted the World Cup in his fifth and final appearance.

He said: “For me it’s the last Copa. We played the last World Cup.

“[Di Maria, Otamendi] and I are playing the last battles and we are enjoying it to the fullest.”

Messi’s tears came just weeks after long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo also broke down at what could be his final major tournament with Portugal.

The ex-Real Madrid superstar, 39, was reduced to tears after missing a penalty in his side’s last-16 win over Slovenia.

Portugal were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals.

7Messi’s tears come after Cristiano Ronaldo cried at the Euros