Brazil great Kaka praises Lionel Messi after emotional Copa America moment

Brazilian football icon Kaka recently lavished praise on Argentina star Lionel Messi. He lauded the Argentine maestro’s unwavering mentality after an emotional moment where Messi could be seen in tears after being substituted due to an ankle injury during the Copa America final against Colombia.

Kaka, who shone brightly at AC Milan, believes that Messi’s burning desire to achieve more sets him apart despite his numerous accolades.

However, Messi’s sorrow was short-lived as the extra-time goal by Lautaro Martinez secured a victory for La Albiceleste, turning Messi’s tears into triumphant cheers. Reflecting on this poignant scene, Kaka, one of football’s modern greats, extolled Messi’s mentality.

“Messi must raise his head up and know himself well. They always said that Messi does not know that he is Messi, and today I see that happening. He has won 8 Ballon d’Ors, the World Cup, and 5 Golden Shoes, and he is now the most decorated with titles. He was crying because he could not complete the match. What a great mentality,” Kaka remarked, as quoted by Messi World FC.

Kaka, who played alongside Lionel Messi‘s arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, also acknowledged the fans’ unforgettable support, noting that not only Argentines, but also Colombians chanted Messi’s name when he cried. He emphasised that this global admiration is something to be proud of as the 37-year-old has earned love from around the world.

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Lionel Messi’s 2024 Ballon d’Or Prediction

In other news, Lionel Messi has identified Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe as leading contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, notably excluding Jude Bellingham from his predictions.

Despite the impressive debut season by Bellingham with Real Madrid, Messi does not consider the England star as a top contender for the award. The Ballon d’Or, historically dominated by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the past decade, saw Messi further extend his record with another win after his 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.