The bearded wonder: Messi's facial hair stealing the show at Copa America

The Barcelona wizard has made the headlines as much for his new chin-fuzz as his brilliant showings so far in the Copa America - but could he stay away from the razor until 2018?

Posted Monday, June 20, 2016 by Goal.com

We are used to seeing the clean-shaven Lionel Messi tormenting defences across the world, but he has picked up a new weapon for the Copa America Centenario.

The Argentina captain went into the tournament with the makings of a copper-tinted beard, and he has promised to maintain it as long as the Albiceleste stay in the chase for the title.

As Leo and his nation go from strength to strength in the Copa the beard has almost taken on a life of its own, becoming the subject of countless memes and even earning its own Twitter account.

Él pic.twitter.com/y06QzXwc2E
— El Barba (@ElBarbaMessi) June 11, 2016

We are used to seeing the clean-shaven Lionel Messi tormenting defences across the world, but he has picked up a new weapon for the Copa America Centenario.

The Argentina captain went into the tournament with the makings of a copper-tinted beard, and he has promised to maintain it as long as the Albiceleste stay in the chase for the title.

As Leo and his nation go from strength to strength in the Copa the beard has almost taken on a life of its own, becoming the subject of countless memes and even earning its own Twitter account.

Messi in 2017 if he keeps his beard... pic.twitter.com/z730uxoqcb
— GeniusFootball (@GeniusFootball) June 19, 2016

"I'm leaving the beard, but keeping it neat and tidy," he laughed when shown the mock-up by a journalist following Argentina's 4-1 quarter final win over Venezuela.

Can anyone in the Copa America stop the newly hirsute superstar?