Lionel Messi is concluding his tenure with the Argentina national team, marking the end of a career that saw him become the Albiceleste’s all-time leader in both appearances and goals. A friendly match against Benin at the Monumental de River serves as the final farewell for the player who, with permission of Diego Armando Maradona, can be defined as the best player in the history of the Albiceleste.
Since his international debut on August 17, 2005, at the Ferenc-Puskás-Stadion in Budapest, Messi has recorded 207 appearances and 125 goals for his nation. His journey spanned six FIFA World Cup cycles and culminated in a period of success under manager Lionel Scaloni, securing four titles in three years: the 2021 and 2024 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The volatile start in Budapest
Messi’s international career began with an unexpected turn in Hungary. Only 17 years old at the time, he entered the match as a substitute for Lisandro López and was sent off just one minute later. This challenging introduction set a tone for his early years, during which he faced skepticism from critics who questioned his ability to replicate his Barcelona form while playing for Argentina. Despite these doubts, he scored his first senior international goal on March 1, 2006, in a friendly against Croatia in Basel.
The period of final defeats
The years between 2013 and 2016 were defined by high-level performance and acute disappointment. Under managers Alejandro Sabella and Gerardo Martino, Argentina reached three major tournament finals. The 2014 World Cup final in Brazil ended in a 1-0 loss to Germany after extra time. This was followed by defeats in the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals against Chile, both decided by penalty shootouts.
Following the 2016 loss in the Copa América Centenario, Messi announced his temporary retirement from international football. He later reversed that decision, returning to the squad in September 2016 to score the winning goal in a qualifier against Uruguay in Mendoza.
The rise of the Scaloni era
The appointment of Lionel Scaloni as head coach in 2018 marked the beginning of a stable period for the national team. The 2021 Copa América victory over Brazil at the Maracaná stadium in Rio de Janeiro served as a turning point, ending a 28-year trophy drought for the senior team. This momentum carried into the 2022 World Cup, where Argentina defeated France in the final to secure their third star.
Throughout this era, Messi transitioned from a primary goal-scoring threat to the team’s captain and tactical anchor. His record-breaking performance continued into the latter stages of his career, including surpassing Luis Suárez as the all-time leading scorer in South American World Cup qualifiers during an October 2023 match against Peru.
Messi holds Argentine national team goals and appearance records
By the time of his final match, Messi leaves behind a statistical footprint that includes:
- 207 total appearances for the national team.
- 125 international goals.
- Four major international trophies (2021 Copa América, 2022 Finalissima, 2022 World Cup, 2024 Copa América).
- The record for most appearances and most goals in the history of the Argentine national team.
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