Lionel Messi has brought the curtain down on his remarkable international career with Argentina after delivering one final masterclass in front of a packed Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
The 39 year old captain scored and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in an emotional friendly on Tuesday, October 6, marking the end of more than two decades in the famous blue and white shirt.
The match was organised as a farewell for Messi following his decision to retire from international football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) had previously confirmed that Lionel would be included in the squad to give supporters an opportunity to celebrate his extraordinary contribution to the national team.
For Argentine football, the occasion was about much more than the result.
More than 85,000 supporters filled the Monumental as fans gathered to honour a player who has been at the centre of the national team’s story for more than 20 years.
Argentina’s colours illuminated parts of Buenos Aires, while fireworks and tributes added to an atmosphere designed to celebrate one of the greatest careers in international football.
Messi entered the game carrying the weight of an extraordinary legacy.
He finished his Argentina career as the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer. Before the farewell match, he had made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals. His final appearance took his record number of caps to 208 and his international goals to 126.
His farewell performance proved fittingly decisive.
After a goalless first half, Messi helped Argentina take control of the match by providing the assist for Nicolás Otamendi to open the scoring. Otamendi, who shared 17 years with Messi in the national team, was also bringing his international career to a close.
Messi then created another opportunity for Nicolás Paz, one of the younger players seen as part of Argentina’s next generation, to double the advantage.
The final moment belonged to Lionel himself.
The Argentina captain converted a penalty to complete the 3-0 victory and score his 126th international goal.
The goal triggered another huge celebration inside the stadium, with supporters chanting his name as the final chapter of his international career unfolded.
The farewell was particularly emotional for Messi, who acknowledged the significance of leaving the national team after such a long career.
Reflecting on his time with Argentina, he expressed pride in having worn the national shirt for more than two decades. He also spoke about the emotional difficulty of no longer returning to represent his country.
The farewell also provided a moment of reflection on how dramatically Messi’s relationship with Argentina changed throughout his career.
His early years with the national team were marked by intense pressure and criticism. Despite his extraordinary success with Barcelona, Messi was repeatedly judged against Argentina’s failure to win major international trophies.
He came agonisingly close several times.
Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and suffered Copa América final defeats in 2015 and 2016. Following the 2016 defeat, Messi briefly announced his retirement from international football before eventually returning.
His persistence ultimately transformed the story.
Messi finally won his first major senior international trophy with Argentina at the 2021 Copa América. He then helped the country win the 2022 Finalissima before achieving the greatest prize of his career at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina defeated France on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 final, allowing Messi to lift the World Cup trophy that had eluded him for much of his career.
He later added another Copa América title in 2024, further strengthening his status as one of Argentina’s greatest sporting figures.
His final World Cup appearance came in 2026, when Argentina reached the final but lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time. The defeat brought an end to Argentina’s hopes of defending the world title and was followed by Messi’s decision to retire from international football.
The farewell against Benin therefore represented more than the end of a playing career. It was the closing chapter of a complicated but ultimately triumphant relationship between Messi and the country he chose to represent.
Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou had earlier insisted that his team would not simply allow Messi to score as part of the celebration, saying the Argentina captain would have to earn any goal. His prediction proved correct in spirit, even though Messi eventually found the net from the penalty spot.
At the final whistle, teammates, opponents and officials gathered around Messi for embraces before a series of tributes continued. A drone display illuminated the sky, while Argentine singer Soledad Pastorutti performed during the celebrations.
For Argentina, Messi leaves behind records that may stand for generations and a trophy collection that includes the World Cup and two Copa América titles.
More importantly, he leaves after changing the narrative around his national-team career.
The player once criticised for falling short with Argentina eventually became the captain who delivered the World Cup.
His final performance against Benin was therefore not simply a farewell match. It was a celebration of perseverance, redemption and an extraordinary football journey.
After more than two decades, Lionel Messi has finally said goodbye to Argentina on his own terms — as captain, record scorer, record appearance holder and World Cup champion.