Lionel Messi revealed his ankle injury was not as bad as first feared despite missing out on Argentina’s victorious homecoming following their Copa America success.
Messi remained in Miami for treatment on his right ankle after being forced out of the 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia in the 66th minute on Sunday.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner sustained the injury following a heavy first-half challenge from Santiago Arias but battled on for half an hour before limping off and breaking down in tears on the bench.
Messi’s night ended in smiles, however, thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s winner that gave Argentina their third successive major trophy in Angel Di Maria’s final international game.
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The Inter Miami star did not join his team-mates as they paraded the trophy to thousands of fans in Buenos Aires but wrote on Instagram: “The Copa América is over and the first thing I want is to thank everyone for the messages and greetings.
“I’m fine, thank God, and I hope I can soon be on the pitch again enjoying what I like to do most. I am happy, very happy, especially because we achieved the goal we had and Fide [Di Maria] leaves us but with another Cup.
“The older ones, like him, [Nicolás] Ota [Otamendi] or me, experienced it [Copa América] with special emotion, with other team-mates who have already played several tournaments and added their experience as well, and with a group of young people who give their all in every ball.”
Messi will undergo treatment before returning to MLS duty with Miami.
He added: “Thanks to everyone who supported us, this national team has a lot of present and a lot of future too.”
