Six days after Lionel Messi’s ankle nearly doubled in size and he was substituted during the Copa American final, the Argentine legend limped onto the field in a protective boot at an Inter Miami match.
Messi is out indefinitely with the injury but attended his club team’s match live to receive a plaque commemorating his 45th major title for club and country as a player.
Those 45 victories of course also include winning the Leagues Cup last year, Inter Miami’s first feat in the club’s history.
Messi received a huge applause from the crowd for his presence. Many spectators had hoped to see him on the pitch not in football boots, but in the trademark pink shirt of Inter Miami.
Messi didn’t have the explosive Copa America tournament most had hoped for, but he still led Argentina to victory, beating Colombia in extra time in Sunday’s final.
Lionel Messi made his first public appearance since the Copa America final on Saturday
During an Inter Miami match, Messi wore a protective boot around his injured ankle
Messi’s performances off the pitch have dominated his post-Copa America hype, not only because of his injuries but also because of his real-life responsibilities as captain.
After the victory, Argentine teammate and Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez was caught chanting a racist slogan on the team bus.
Fernandez has since apologized in various ways, with discipline expected. Messi was not on the bus during the incident.
Still, the chant is a blemish on Argentina’s third major tournament victory in less than three years.
Julio Garro, a member of the government of Argentine President Javier Milei, is said to have ordered Messi and Argentine Football Federation president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia to publicly repent for the way some South American champions have behaved, according to The nation.
However, Garro has strongly denied asking Messi for an apology.
Messi has not yet spoken publicly about Fernandez’s behaviour.