WATCH: Lionel Messi in tears after being subbed off during Copa America 2024

After being replaced in the Copa America 2024 final versus Colombia on Monday due to an injury, Lionel Messi was left broken and in tears on the Argentina bench. Following his defensive ball-chasing, the 37-year-old left the game with a non-contact injury, hobbling off the field in tears.

Messi appeared to have injured his leg when he was kicking the ball prior to it sailed out of bounds earlier in the game. Uncomfortably, he placed his right leg and appeared to be making contact with Santiago Arias of Colombia.

Messi flipped over multiple times as he writhed in agony and gripped his lower right thigh. After tending his injuries for a few minutes, trainers assisted him in standing up.  He moved cautiously in the direction of the sidelines but then returned to the game. Messi was absent from Argentina's group stage showdown because he had been battling pain and an injury to his leg for the majority of the competition. On Sunday, he made one attempt at a shot in the first half.

MESSI 😭😭



pic.twitter.com/lB2VJtRKPz

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) July 15, 2024

Why did the Copa America 2024 final get delayed?

After more than an hour of delays due to crowd problems, including fans breaking through security barriers, the final finally started. Social media footage shows supporters running beyond police officers and stadium employees while leaping over security railings close to the stadium's southwest entrance. The majority of the fans were dressed in Colombian shirts. There were screams coming from the background. In the blazing heat of South Florida, a few people were observed seeking for water and obtaining medical attention.

After large crowds of supporters were held waiting at access gates, tournament organizers decided to stop admission into the stadium and postpone the South American football showcase by thirty minutes. The organizers of Copa America made a message on X, formerly Twitter, which seemed to indicate that spectators without tickets were trying to enter and causing the commotion.

Journalists and reporters on the site saw a number of spectators inside the arena receiving medical attention from paramedics. When their frustrations boiled over, some fans forced their way past security personnel to enter the event, creating a scene of chaos at the entrance gates, according to other supporters who were interviewed by the media.