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Lionel Messi after his side’s Copa America final loss against Chile, refused to receive the Best Player, according to the 'minutouno' website. The spot where the Best Player Trophy supposedly should have been placed was seen vacant at the presentation ceremony.
Messi reportedly requested organisers to remove the trophy
A video has surfaced in which an official appears behind the trophy and takes it off the stage. According to reports in Argentina, Messi is believed to have instructed the tournament officials to bring down the Best Player Trophy on stage at the presentation at Chile’s National Stadium in Santiago.
After a largely successful season at Barcelona, where he helped his side achieve the elusive treble for the second time in six years, he did not score an open goal this tournament. Although he was fundamental to his team’s relative success of finishing runners-up in the continental tournament.
The organisers seemingly ‘erased’ the trophy from the coveted list of trophies present on the stage, and did not announce any winner for the Best Player Award. Messi’s displeasure at his side’s loss was evident when he walked onto stage to collect his runners-up medal.
A situation similar to the 2014 World Cup
Wildly criticised for not replicating his Barcelona form in Argentine colours, Messi drew the blame for failing to drag his team across the finishing line in the 2015 Copa America. This is was Argentina’s second final loss in the two years in a major tournament in two years. The last one was the 2014 World Cup final loss in Brazil against Germany.
Messi was seen as guilty of a similar incident at the World Cup in Brazil where he went on stage to collect the Golden Ball Award after his side lost the finals, which he could not avoid. A resentful Messi was seen posing with Manuel Neuer, who received the Golden Glove Award on the stage. He was criticised back home for his gesture then.
If the reports are right, this time around, he did avoid collecting the Best Player Award.
Not the first time in the tournament
After his side’s 2-2 draw against Paraguay, Messi did not accept the Man Of The Match Award. The 'Albiceleste' had gone 2-0 up only to concede two goals later. Argentina’s frustrating opening match in the tournament was exemplified by Messi as he rejected the award at the end of the game. However they followed it up with a string of brilliant performances, winning 6-1 against Paraguay in the semi-finals of the tournament.
