Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said that captain Lionel Messi had to play through the pain barrier at the Copa America after picking up a hamstring problem.
Scaloni told reporters that Messi had “hamstring problems” in the semi-final against Colombia and Saturday’s showdown with Brazil but carried on regardless.
“If you knew the way that he played in the Copa America you’d love him even more,” he added.
“You can never do without a player like him, even when he is not fully fit like in this game and the previous one.