Argentina captain, Lionel Messi ended his international career in emotional fashion on Tuesday, scoring in his final appearance for the country as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in a friendly in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old, who made his 208th appearance for Argentina, converted a penalty in the 71st minute at the Estadio Monumental to score his 126th international goal.
The occasion was dubbed the “last tango” as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner brought the curtain down on a 21-year international career.
Messi also provided two assists in the match, setting up Nicolás Otamendi for Argentina’s second goal with a corner before finding Nico Paz, who curled the ball into the net for the third goal.
Speaking to the packed stadium after the final whistle, Messi said, “I would love to keep coming back forever, because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you. The most beautiful thing.”
The emotional farewell continued after the match as a drone display illuminated the sky above the Monumental with images from Messi’s career, including his iconic World Cup triumph in Qatar in 2022.
Messi, who was already in tears before kick-off, also reflected on the sadness of leaving the national team.
“Now, inevitably, I face the saddest day of my career: saying goodbye to the national team,” he said.
“Goodbye to all of you. I’m going to miss you; I’m going to miss defending the national team’s colors, but now I’ll be right there alongside you, supporting these guys and everyone who comes after them. Always, always united.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni paid tribute to Messi after the game, saying, “We can put together a great squad with the new guys coming up, but I’ve never seen that aura in anyone else in my life.”
“That presence he creates won’t be there anymore. We’ll look for new ways forward, but that feeling will be gone.
Having enjoyed the experience of coaching him was incredible, and now we have to carry on without him,” Scaloni added.
Messi announced his international retirement after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey. He had earlier said, “The time has come.”
Argentina’s football association subsequently persuaded him to make one final appearance in front of his home supporters, with more than 85,000 tickets for the farewell match selling out within 90 minutes.
Reflecting on his final World Cup, Messi said, “The last World Cup took a massive toll, everything I went through. We had a dream, my dream and the whole country’s dream, of becoming world champions again.”
Despite losing the final, Messi finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, performances that have put him in contention for another Ballon d’Or alongside Spain’s Lamine Yamal and France’s Kylian Mbappé.
Messi leaves Argentina as the country’s record appearance holder and leading scorer.
He won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 and led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022.
At the end of his farewell speech, Messi said, “I just want to tell you that I love you and I’ll miss you. I’m proud to be Argentine and to have fulfilled this dream with all of you. Thank you so much.”
He will continue his club career with Inter Miami, having recently won the Campeones Cup, his fourth trophy with the Major League Soccer side.
