“It was a difficult situation” - Leandro Paredes opens up on what he told Lionel Messi after injury in 2024 Copa America final
Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes has shed light on the 'difficult situation' that ensued when captain Lionel Messi got injured in the 2024 Copa America final against Colombia. The 37-year-old hobbled off in tears midway through the second period due to a swollen ankle before La Albiceleste won 1-0 in extra time to defend their title.
It has since emerged that Messi has sustained a ligament tear in his ankle, which is set to keep him on the sidelines for a while. Meanwhile, Paredes, who was on the bench at the time - opened up on his reaction when he saw Messi got injured, comforting his captain to not cry and to stay calm (as per Albiceleste Talk):
"When Messi got injured, It was a difficult situation; I tried not to look at him so I wouldn't get emotional. I told him not to cry and to stay calm because he had given everything, that he was an example.
"The important thing is that we achieved our goal. What De Paul said that we wanted to win it 'for Messi' is how we all felt. He is our captain, and we wanted to bring him joy."
The 30-year-old eventually came on for Alexis Mac Allister in the seventh minute of extra time, where Lautaro Martinez's 112th-minute winner made La Albiceleste the first 16-time Copa champions.
How Lionel Messi fared in Argentina's 2024 Copa America triumph?
Argentina captain Lionel Messi endured an injury-plagued 2024 Copa America campaign in the United States. He played five games - contributing a goal and an assist - as his team won their fourth straight international title.
Messi provided an assist in the 2-0 group-stage win over Canada and scored against the same opponents in a 2-0 semi-final win. Despite his limited involvement in the final, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner eventually won his second straight Copa America final after three previous defeats (2007, 2015-16).
Three years ago - at the Copa America - Messi ended La Albiceleste's 28-year wait for a senior international title. A year later, Argentina won the 2022 Finalissima before triumphing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.