Neymar left in TEARS after Brazil lose Copa America final to Argentina at the Maracana… but gets over his anguish quickly enough as he’s spotted laughing with old team-mate and rival Lionel Messi who was celebrating his first international title
Brazil star Neymar cut a tearful figure at the final whistle of the Copa America final after Argentina defeated his side 1-0.
Angel Di Maria struck the winner in Brazil’s iconic stadium, lobbing Ederson with a sumptuous first half effort.
Yet the Brazil star appeared to come to terms with the defeat quickly enough – soon after Argentina got their hands on the trophy, Neymar was pictured laughing alongside his old team-mate Messi, who he played alongside at Barcelona.
Neymar was left in tears after Brazil lost the Copa America final to rivals Argentina
But shortly after, Neymar looked in better spirits talking to old team-mate Lionel Messi
Messi and Neymar used to play together for Barcelona but were opponents in Saturday’s game
The duo shared a tender moment on the pitch after the final whistle, with Messi consoling Neymar shortly before he went up to lift the trophy.
Neymar was spotted promptly removing his runner-up medal shortly after receiving it in the ceremony after the match.
The PSG star admitted his heartache after the game, saying ‘losing hurts me’, but praised Messi for his achievement of winning his first trophy with Argentina.
‘Losing hurts me, it hurts me… it’s something I still haven’t learned to live with,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘Yesterday when I lost, I went to give a hug to the biggest and best in history that I saw playing.
Neymar promptly took his runners-up medal off after Brazil lost 1-0 to Argentina in the final
‘My friend and brother MESSI, I was sad and I told him “you beat me”.
‘I am very sad for having lost. But this guy is awesome!
‘I have great respect for what he has done for football and especially for me.
Despite Neymar’s valiant efforts, he was unable to haul Brazil back into the game in the second half.
Neymar struggled to find a way through a stubborn Argentina defence that had been set up by their coach, Lionel Scaloni.
On the pitch, Messi and Neymar shared a tender moment before the trophy was handed out
As the game went on, Argentina appeared to set in and hold on to their 1-0 lead. Early in the second half, Richarlison found the back of the net but his goal was rightly ruled out for offside.
Neymar had a free-kick from 30 yards in the first half, shortly after Di Maria had scored, but he smashed his effort into the Argentina wall.
Gabriel Barbosa went close late on but Argentina held on and Messi finally got his hands on a trophy at international level.
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