Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career with Argentina on Tuesday night with a goal and two assists as the world champions defeated Benin 3-0 in an emotional farewell at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Playing before more than 85,000 fans, Messi helped set up goals for Nicolás Otamendi and Nicolás Paz before converting a penalty in the 71st minute to score his 126th international goal.
The match, which marked Messi’s 208th appearance for Argentina, was turned into a national celebration as fans gathered to bid farewell to the captain who led the country to Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Messi was visibly emotional during the Argentine national anthem before the match, while a packed Monumental later joined in tributes to the 39-year-old forward.
The farewell began to take shape in the 48th minute when Otamendi opened the scoring after connecting with a corner delivered by Messi.
Messi then provided the assist for Paz to double Argentina’s advantage in the 61st minute before converting from the penalty spot 10 minutes later.
The final whistle was followed by an extended celebration, with teammates, opponents and officials gathering around Messi before a drone display lit up the stadium.
Addressing the crowd after the match, Messi struggled to contain his emotions as he reflected on his time with the national team.
He said representing Argentina for more than two decades had been a source of great pride and acknowledged that leaving the national team would be difficult.
The farewell came after years in which Messi faced intense scrutiny over his performances for Argentina, particularly after several major tournament defeats.
His international career eventually reached its defining moment in 2022 when he captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.
He also helped the team win the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, ending a long wait for major international silverware.
Messi retires from international football as Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.
Although his international career has ended, Messi is expected to continue playing at club level with Inter Miami, where his contract runs through the 2028 season.
For Argentina, Tuesday’s match marked the end of an era that began with Messi’s senior international debut in 2005 and ended with the country’s most decorated player taking one final lap around the Monumental.
As thousands of supporters continued chanting his name, Messi paused near the tunnel and raised his arms towards the crowd before leaving the pitch for the final time in an Argentina shirt.
