Why tearful Lionel Messi took Copa America final goal celebrations away from Argentina hero Lautaro Martinez – with Giovani Lo Celso explaining decision to head for the bench

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner got his hands on another continental crown after a dramatic 1-0 win over Colombia – with his record-breaking haul of major honours being taken to 45. He was, however, left filling a spectator role towards the end of that contest.

Messi rolled his ankle on the turf at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, forcing him from the field. Emotion spilled out of the all-time great as he took up a seat alongside Argentina’s substitutes, with the 37-year-old still working his way back from an untimely injury.

Lo Celso was among those eager to ensure that Messi was still involved in the celebrations that accompanied Lautaro’s match-winning effort against Colombia, telling Ole of why he made a beeline for the bench: “Because of what we were experiencing after Leo's injury, who is our emblem, our captain and who always wants to be on the pitch, and unfortunately with his ankle he couldn't continue. And for us, as team-mates and friends, seeing him suffer like that is not nice.

“When the goal came, the first thing that occurred to me was to go and hug him: from the outside you suffer a lot more and I think he deserved it more than anyone else. The first thing that came to my mind after seeing him cry and suffer like that was to go and hug him and dedicate the goal to him.”

Messi is yet to return to competitive action with club side Inter Miami – sitting out the 2024 All-Star game in the United States, as well as his side's defence of the Leagues Cup. He should, however, be back to lead a quest for MLS Cup glory soon.