Messi, the Barcelona icon who is widely considered as the world's best player, clashed with Chile's Gary Medel in an off-the-ball incident where both men bumped chests.

Referee Mauro Diaz de Vivar waved two red cards after the 37th minute flash-point and Messi later accused the tournament's officials of corruption while failing to collect his bronze medal.

He said he was sent off because he criticised the officials after Argentina's 2-0 semi-final defeat to hosts Brazil, when they had two penalty claims turned down.

When asked if he was dismissed because of his previous words, Messi told reporters: "Yes, unfortunately, yes. 

"You cannot be honest, and you cannot say how things should be done."

He added: "I feel lot of anger because I think I did not deserve that red card because I think we were playing a very good game. 

"We were ahead, but, as I said recently, unfortunately there is a lot of corruption.

"We leave with the feeling that they did not allow us to be in the final, that we were ready for better. 

"Brazil's match and today's match were our two best performances, but then when you are sincere, you say things and these things happen."

Messi claimed that the referee "overreacted" at the Arena Corinthians and said a yellow card for both players would have been fair.

The 32-year-old won Olympic gold with Argentina at Beijing 2008 but has missed out internationally at both the World Cup and Copa América.

Argentina has not won the regional event since 1993 and lost four out of the last five finals.

This was Messi's first red card since 2005, when he made his Argentina debut against Hungary, and he will now face suspension.

Tournament organisers The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) quickly released a statement dismissing his remarks.

"In football, sometimes you lose and sometimes you win," they said.

"One of the fundamental pillars of fair play is to accept the results with respect.

"The same applies for the refereeing decisions which are human and can always be improved.

"It's unacceptable that as a result of incidents that are a regular part of competition, where 12 teams compete on equal terms, unfounded and untrue accusations have been launched that call into question the integrity of the Copa América.

"These accusations represent a lack of respect to the competition, to all the participating players and to the hundreds of professionals of the CONMEBOL, an institution that since 2016 has been working tirelessly to make transparent, professionalise and develop South American football."

Before the red cards, Argentina had raced into a 2-0 lead with Sergio Aguero rounding the keeper to slot home the first after 11 minutes.

Paulo Dybala's cool chipped finish doubled the advantage 10 minutes later before Arturo Vidal fired home a penalty for Chile shortly before the hour mark.

The Video Assistant Referee ruled that Giovani Lo Celso's foul on Charles Aránguiz was inside the area but Chile, who were the back-to-back defending champions, could find no further way through.

Brazil will play Peru in tomorrow's final at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.