Lionel Messi has brought his extraordinary international career with Argentina to an emotional close, leaving the national team after more than two decades with another unforgettable performance.
The 39-year-old captain scored once and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, turning his final appearance for the country into a celebration of one of football’s greatest careers.
More than 85,000 supporters packed the Monumental stadium for the farewell, creating an atmosphere that reflected Messi’s enormous importance to Argentine football.
(Photo by Carl de Souza/AFP via Getty Images)
The match was not simply another international friendly. It represented the end of a 21-year journey that began when Messi first appeared for Argentina and developed into one of the most successful international careers in football history.
Messi finished his Argentina career as the country’s most-capped player, with 208 appearances, and its all-time leading scorer with 126 goals. His international achievements also include the 2021 Copa America title and the 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.
His final match contained several moments that captured the story of his career.
Argentina initially struggled to break through against Benin, but Messi soon became involved. He supplied the assist for Nicolas Otamendi to open the scoring before setting up Nico Paz for the second goal.
Then came the moment thousands of supporters had been waiting for.
Messi stepped up to take a penalty in the second half and calmly converted it, giving Argentina a 3-0 lead and scoring his 126th international goal.
The goal produced an eruption inside the Monumental.
For a player who spent years carrying the weight of expectations from Argentine supporters, the final moment was fitting. Messi had once been criticized for failing to deliver an international trophy. By the end of his career, he had transformed that narrative completely.
Argentina eventually became world champions with Messi as its central figure.
His journey with the national team was not always easy. Early in his international career, expectations were enormous because of his performances at club level. Argentina supporters wanted him to reproduce the success he had enjoyed in Europe.
The breakthrough finally came with the Copa America victory in 2021.
That triumph was followed by the 2022 World Cup, where Messi produced one of the defining tournament performances of his career as Argentina defeated France in the final.
His relationship with the national team changed dramatically after those victories.
The player who had once walked away from international football amid frustration was eventually celebrated as the leader who restored Argentina to the top of world football.
“It is difficult to put into words what I feel tonight. Wearing the Argentina shirt for so many…”
His farewell also included tributes from teammates, opponents and supporters.
Benin’s players joined the Argentine team in recognizing Messi before the match, while supporters created a spectacular celebration inside and outside the stadium. Buenos Aires was filled with Argentina’s colours, while a drone display and fireworks added to the occasion.
Messi was visibly emotional throughout the night.
He spoke about the difficulty of leaving the national team and the pride he felt wearing the Argentina shirt for more than 20 years. He also reflected on the recent death of his father, adding another deeply personal dimension to the farewell.
For Argentina, Messi’s departure marks the end of an era.
The national team must now begin preparing for life without the player who has been its central figure for more than a generation. Younger players such as Nico Paz are already being viewed as possible future leaders, but replacing Messi’s influence will be an enormous challenge.
His departure from international football does not necessarily mean the end of his playing career.
Messi remains captain of Inter Miami and continues to compete at club level in the United States. Inter Miami has confirmed that his final Argentina appearance ended with a goal and two assists, while the club has also highlighted his continued achievements in MLS.
That means football fans may still have opportunities to watch Messi produce moments of brilliance.
But his Argentina story is now complete.
From the disappointment of his early international years to Copa America glory and World Cup victory, Messi leaves behind a career that changed Argentine football and influenced generations of players around the world.
His final night was therefore less about saying goodbye to football itself and more about closing one extraordinary chapter.
Argentina did not simply lose a footballer on Tuesday.
It said goodbye to the player who became the face of its modern football history.
