Lionel Messi scored one goal and created two as he ended his 21-year international career on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Benin in a friendly at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old captain played his 208th and final game for Argentina, surpassing his own national-team records for appearances and goals. His second-half penalty took his international tally to 126.
Messi set up Argentina's opener for Nicolás Otamendi and then the second for Nico Paz. He ended with a penalty.
The match was played in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 85,000 spectators, and the occasion was dedicated to Messi’s departure from international football. Nicolás Otamendi was also in the game, making his last appearance for Argentina.
Messi announced his international retirement on 31 August after Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the final of the 2026 World Cup. The decision was painful, but he felt the time was right to step away from the national team, he added.
An emotional goodbye
The farewell started before kick-off, with Messi appearing emotional during the Argentine national anthem. For the pre-match ceremony he was joined by his three sons.
There also were fireworks, music, and other tributes at the stadium. Play was briefly halted around the 10-minute mark of the match with fans applauding Messi.
After the final whistle, Messi addressed the crowd with a nine-minute emotional speech. As Messi spoke, Argentina players, including Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernández, cried.
Messi said he did not want to leave the field and thanked the supporters for their support throughout his career.
During his more than two decades with the national team, Messi became Argentina’s most capped player and top scorer. He won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 and led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and 2022 Finalissima.
He made his international debut in 2005 against Hungary. His first appearance lasted less than two minutes before he was sent off for elbowing Hungary defender Vilmos Vanczák.
He would go on to make 208 appearances for Argentina, scoring 126 goals.
Messi also ended his World Cup career with 21 goals, second on the tournament’s all-time scoring list, trailing France’s Kylian Mbappe, who has 22.
Messi finished second on the men’s international scoring list behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Praise from ex-teammates
Among those to pay tribute before the match was Neymar, Messi’s former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain colleague.
Neymar thanked Messi for his contribution to football and said it had been an honor to play alongside him.
One of Messi's closest teammates for Argentina, Rodrigo De Paul, also said the forward had been an important influence on his life and career.
Another long-time teammate, former Argentina winger Angel Di Maria, said he was relieved to see Messi leave the national team, knowing he had given everything to the shirt.
Messi’s international career is over, but he continues his professional club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. He is under contract with the club through the 2028 season.
Tuesday’s match was the end of an era for Argentina that started with a painful debut and ended up featuring the country’s biggest international success in the modern era.
