Messi rejects Copa MVP

Argentina Lionel Messi rejected the Copa America’s best player of the tournament award, forcing the organisers to remove the award plague from the stage and not awarded after Messi turned it down, following his country’s penalty shootout defeat to Chile.
There was criticism and cynicism after Messi won the Golden Ball at the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, won by Germany against Argentina.
Messi reportedly turned the Copa America award down to avoid another awkward presentation, and because he was too distraught by the defeat.
Despite a strong contribution at various stages through the tournament, the Barcelona star was anonymous in the final, and didn’t score from open play through the tournament. He showed his disappointment by immediately taking his runners’ up medal from around his neck.
He did, however, show plenty of class while on the pitch after the loss, taking what must be the saddest selfie in sport with a young Chile fan likely oblivious to the superstar’s disappointment.