Messi was left bemused by the decision and walked off the pitch, as Argentina held on to win the third place play-off 2-1 despite Arturo Vidal's penalty after half time.

But when the Argentina team came back out on the Arena Corinthians turf to receive their medals, Leo was nowhere to be seen.

The Albiceleste captain did not take any part in the ceremony, after a Copa where he has hit the headlines more for his outbursts against organisers Brazil and CONMEBOL than his exploits on the pitch.

And when he finally addressed reporters from the stadium he launched a withering condemnation of the competition's organisation in supposed favour of the hosts.

Argentina Chile Copa America 2019

"There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil," he fired, before suggesting that he paid the price for his previous outburst against the refereeing of the semi final.

"I hope the VAR and referees don't play any part in the final and that Peru can compete but it looks tough to me.

"I did not want to be part of this corruption, we shouldn't have to be part of this disrepect we suffered during the Copa America.

"We could have gone further but we weren't allowed into the final. Corruption, referees and all the rest stopped people from enjoying the football.

"I always tell the truth and I'm honest, that is what keeps me calm, if what I say has repercussions that is not my business.

"I think that what happened is because of what I said [against Brazil].

"What I said last time perhaps came back to haunt me. With a yellow card that was the end of it."

Messi previously criticised the playing surfaces at the Copa America following Argentina's last-eight victory over Venezuela, labelling the pitches "shameful" after a subdued performance.

But it was in the aftermath of Tuesday's defeat that he really let loose, incensed by the failure of match official Roddy Zambrano to refer two penalty calls to VAR in Brazil's 2-0 victory.

"They were not better than us. They found the net early and the second goal came from a penalty [to Aguero] they didn't award," Messi told reporters.

"They [the officials] had booked a lot of bullsh*t, but they didn't even check the VAR, that's incredible.

"That happened all over the game. At the first glance of contact, they ruled in their [Brazil's] favour and this kind of bullsh*t distracted us from the game."
https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/the-copas-is-set-up-for-brazil-messi-slams-conmebol/9tbmbufh144b18gebkg6dtahb

Lala do your thing, frount page please

He dey craze!

When Sep Blatter, Michell Platini and UEFA were working every thing out for him and Barcelona, why was he not slamming UEFA for always favoring Barcelona?

Has he even won any major trophy outside Spain since Sep Blatter was ousted?

E pain am
Like Ronaldo, like Messi