Messi, who was injured during the final, shared a photo of him with his wife and three sons posing with his second Copa América trophy
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Lionel Messi on July 14, 2024. Photo: Omar Vega/Getty
Lionel Messi didn’t let an injury stop him from celebrating Argentina’s win at Copa América on Sunday, July 14. Following his team’s historic 1-0 win over Colombia, the soccer legend paid tribute to his family on social media.
“Family thank you for always being there,” Messi, 37, captioned an Instagram photo of himself with his family — including his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three sons, Ciro, 6, Mateo, 8, and Thiago, 11 — as they all smiled while posing with the Copa América trophy.
Roccuzzo, 36, also shared two family photos with her husband and kids following the win. “CHAMPIONS OF AMERICA,” she captioned the Instagram post. “LETS GO ARGENTINA !!!”
On Sunday, the player, who previously won the soccer tournament with Argentina in 2021, posted another photo of himself holding his two trophies. “One more…,” he wrote alongside two trophy emojis.
The celebrations came after the two-time champion was injured during the final match of 2024 South American soccer tournament, which was held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
According to Bleacher Report, Messi hurt his right ankle and was forced to sit out the remainder of the game. While on the sidelines, he became visibly emotional in videos posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) by the outlet.
However, Messi’s absence from the field didn’t stop Argentina from clenching it’s second straight Copa América title — and a record 16th championship overall — after Lautaro Martínez scored a the game-winning goal during the 112th minute, the Associated Press reported.
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Lionel Messi on July 14, 2024. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty
Following the team’s win, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni spoke of Messi’s work ethic and sportsmanship after his injury. “Leo is the greatest player in history,” Scaloni said through an interpreter, per the AP. “He never wants to leave the pitch. He has a swollen ankle and wants to keep playing. I prefer those players.”
“He wants to play not because he is egotistical or selfish. He wants to keep playing because he doesn’t want to leave his teammates,” the coach continued, adding, “He was born to be on the pitch.”
Sunday’s match in Miami, where he also plays for the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, marked Messi’s 39th appearance at Copa América before the injury sidelined him a little over an hour into the match.
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Lionel Messi on July 14, 2024. Buda Mendes/Getty
Noticeably limping after Argentina won, Messi was assisted by his teammates, Nicolás Ottamendi and Ángel Di María, to help him lift the 2024 trophy, the AP reported.
Prior to the game, Messi thanked everyone for their support as Argentina made its way to the final. “Last day of Copa America. Once again we reached the end… This incredible road would have been impossible without the hard work of everyone, the ones who watch the most and the ones who are always behind the camera,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Thanks to all for the effort and passion, to all the teammates and the technical body, to the workers of the National Team and all the Argentinians who came to encourage us to America and to those who could not come but support us from our country and also from other places where they are living,” Messi continued, before concluding with, “A big hug to all, come on Argentina.”
