Lionel Messi bids emotional farewell to Argentina after 3-0 win over Benin
Lionel Messi brought the curtain down on his 21-year international career, bidding an emotional farewell to Argentina supporters in a 3-0 victory over Benin.
- Development: Lionel Messi bids emotional farewell to Argentina after 3-0 win over Benin
- Core Takeaway: Lionel Messi brought the curtain down on his 21-year international career, bidding an emotional farewell to Argentina supporters in a 3-0 victory over Benin.
- Context: Primary reporting aggregated across independent newsrooms and verified against CurrentDeck standards.
Lionel Messi brought the curtain down on his 21-year international career on Tuesday, bidding farewell to adoring Argentina supporters in an emotional final appearance at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. In a fixture billed as 'The Last Tango', the 39-year-old forward signed off by scoring his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 spectators as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Benin, according to reports from africaninsider.com and kalingatv.com.
Playing in his record-extending 208th international match, Messi orchestrated the opening goal by setting up veteran Nicolas Otamendi, before teeing up Nico Paz and ultimately sealing the scoreline himself from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, as detailed by africaninsider.com and kalingatv.com. The occasion transcended the match itself. Before kickoff, a giant Argentina jersey bearing the word "Gracias" above his famous No.10 was laid out on the pitch, and the game was halted in the 10th minute for a minute-long standing ovation, as reported by africaninsider.com.
Lionel Scaloni and Teammates Reflect on the End of an Era
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni admitted that coaching the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had been the fulfillment of a dream, describing him as unequalled and unique. Speaking at his post-match news conference, Scaloni acknowledged the heavy emotional toll the farewell took on the entire squad.
"I never imagined in my life that I would coach the best footballer in history. Coaching Messi was a dream come true."
Lionel Scaloni, Argentina manager, via africasoccer.com
Scaloni noted that the squad had been visibly anxious since Sunday as they wanted to deliver the best possible send-off for their captain. While acknowledging that the team must now look forward and integrate talented young players, Scaloni stated that the side would miss the individual brilliance that could instantly alter a match on a difficult day, according to africasoccer.com.
Record-Breaking Legacy and Career Milestones
Messi departs the international stage holding numerous historic records for the Albiceleste. Having made his senior debut against Hungary in August 2005—a brief appearance that ended in a red card—he evolved into the defining figure of Argentine football, according to thethedailyjagran.com. His career eventually bridged years of heartbreaking defeats in major finals, including the 2014 World Cup and consecutive Copa América losses in 2015 and 2016, with ultimate triumphs including the 2021 Copa América, the Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and the 2024 Copa América.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| International Appearances | 208 |
| International Goals | 126 |
| International Assists | 70 |
| World Cup Appearances | 34 matches across 6 editions |
| South American Qualifiers Goals | 36 |
Tributes, Honors, and the Pain of Departure
Hours before Tuesday's fixture, the University of Buenos Aires awarded Messi an honorary doctorate at the Argentine Football Association headquarters, according to africaninsider.com. Tearful moments marked the entire day, from the bus journey through crowds of well-wishers to a drone show lighting up the night sky above the stadium with his image, as reported by africaninsider.com.
Reflecting on his retirement in a post-match address to the stadium, Messi called it the saddest day of his career, citing the physical and emotional exhaustion of Argentina's recent campaign at the World Cup, where the team finished as runners-up to Spain following an ill-tempered final defeat in New Jersey, as noted by africaninsider.com and globalvillagespace.com.
"Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful. I swear I’d like to play for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you."
Lionel Messi, Argentina captain, via africaninsider.com
Tributes poured in globally from football figures, including former Barcelona teammate Neymar, who wrote on X that the world thanks him for everything he did for the sport, according to africaninsider.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Against which team did Lionel Messi play his final international match?
Lionel Messi played his final international match against Benin, helping Argentina secure a 3-0 victory at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, according to africaninsider.com and kalingatv.com.
How many international appearances and goals did Messi finish with?
Messi finished his 21-year international career with 208 appearances and 126 goals for Argentina, alongside 70 assists, as reported by thethedailyjagran.com.
Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, though his future in club football remains subject to evaluation following the passing of his father, Jorge, two months prior to his international farewell, according to africaninsider.com.
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