The word in Argentina is that Leo Messi refused the award for the Copa América's player of the tournament.
According to the website 'minutouno', Messi's snub prompted the organisers to remove the trophy from the stage and leave the prize vacant, rather than give it to someone else.
The Barça star was feeling heavy-hearted after another disappointment at international level and had a hard enough time going up to get his runners-up medal, which he took off no sooner had Ángel María Villar placed it around his neck.
Messi was guilty of a similar stunt earlier in the tournament, rejecting the man-of-the-match award out of frustration following Argentina's opening game, in which Paraguay roared back to draw 2-2 after the 'Albiceleste' had led 2-0
