Lionel Messi finally put some international football demons to bed as he inspired Argentina to Copa America success, after edging rivals Brazil in the final.
The Mirror reports that as a result of the success, Messi also broke a record that was previously held by long-term Balon D’or rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the wake of the victory on July 10, Messi took to Instagram to toast their triumph with a picture of him in the changing room proudly holding the trophy alongside the caption: “What a beautiful madness! This is unbelievable! Thank you, God! We are the champions!”
As things stand, the photo has been liked more than 20 million times, thus making the image the most popular Instagram post ever posted by an athlete.
Ronaldo’s record lasted just under a year, as the previously most liked post came in the form of his touching tribute to the late Diego Maradona after his death in late 2020.
Coincidentally, Messi’s own tribute to Maradona, someone he worked closely with in the international set-up, also featured in the top 20 most popular posts from an athlete, having been liked 16.4 million times, placing it 16th in the list.
The tournament success was well-earned, with Messi comfortably the player of the tournament, a constant thorn in the side of just about every team he faced.
However, arguably Messi’s most quiet night came in the final, where it was left to Paris Saint-Germain star Angel Di Maria to step up and notch the matchwinner at the Maracana.
Having experienced so much heartache on the international stage before, Messi’s elation and relief at the full-time whistle were obvious, as he fell to his knees in celebration.
The trophy marked Argentina’s first piece of silverware in 28 years, mainly down to the genius of the Barcelona skipper.
