BUENOS AIRES: The blue-and-white Argentina jersey will no longer see Lionel Messi racing across the pitch with the ball at his feet. After a remarkable 21-year international career, the Argentine icon brought the curtain down on his national-team journey with a goal and two assists in a 3-0 victory over Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Messi’s final appearance was a fitting farewell. He was directly involved in all three of Argentina’s goals. Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring after a Messi assist, Nico Paz added the second from another Messi-created move, and Messi himself completed the victory by converting a penalty in the 71st minute.
The Monumental also paused the match in the 10th minute, a tribute to Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt. The packed stadium erupted in applause as supporters paid tribute to the captain one final time in Argentina colours.
The emotion was visible even before the match. Messi became emotional during the national anthem as thousands of supporters stood and applauded. Benin players and Argentina teammates also joined the farewell, with Benin captain Sessi D’Almeida presenting Messi with a special gift.
126 Goals, 70 Assists, 208 Matches
The penalty against Benin became Messi’s 126th international goal for Argentina. He finished his national-team career with 208 appearances, 126 goals and 70 assists, all national-team records.
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 against Hungary. Over more than two decades, he represented Argentina in six editions of the FIFA World Cup and became the central figure of one of the most successful periods in the country’s football history.
After Argentina lost the 2016 Copa América final, Messi briefly announced his international retirement. He returned soon afterwards, eventually leading Argentina to the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
A World Cup Champion’s Final Goodbye
Messi leaves the Argentina national team after winning the major international titles available to him — one FIFA World Cup, two Copa América titles and a Finalissima trophy. His international career also includes a record number of appearances and goals for Argentina.
The journey was not without setbacks. Messi endured years of criticism and disappointment with Argentina, including the 2014 World Cup final defeat and subsequent Copa América losses. His brief retirement in 2016 came after another painful final defeat.
But his return ultimately transformed the final chapter of his international career. The 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar ended Argentina’s 36-year wait for the trophy and cemented Messi’s place at the centre of the nation’s modern football story.
Messi’s international chapter is now closed, but his club career continues with Inter Miami, where he remains under contract.
On his final night in the Argentina jersey, Messi left the field with a goal, two assists and a victory — exactly the kind of farewell that matched a career unlike any other.
