Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career with Argentina on Tuesday night, scoring a penalty kick in a 3-0 victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Playing before an audience of 85,000 spectators at a match that kicked off at 23:30 GMT, the 39-year-old captain concluded a run with the Albiceleste that featured six titles and 208 total appearances.
A Monumental Farewell in Buenos Aires
The farewell celebration in Núñez featured fireworks, a giant commemorative number 10 jersey draped across the turf, and a stoppage at the 10-minute mark to honor the team’s captain. Messi walked onto the pitch accompanied by his three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, while his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and mother, Celia Cuccittini, watched from a private box. During the pre-match anthems, led by Falklands War veteran Fabio Santana alongside a national banner, both Messi and head coach Lionel Scaloni wept openly. Former teammates, legends from Argentina’s 1978, 1986, and 2022 World Cup-winning squads, and international stars including Neymar paid tribute to the forward’s legacy.
Goals and Match Statistics Against Benin
Benin proved defensively organized during a scoreless first half in which Messi forced multiple saves from goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou and sent a free kick wide. The deadlock broke two minutes into the second half when defender Nicolás Otamendi—also playing his final international match—volleyed home a corner kick delivered by Messi from the left flank. Nico Paz added a second goal in the 61st minute with a left-footed strike following a combination play with the captain. In the 70th minute, the referee awarded a penalty after a foul on Agustín Giay inside the area, and Messi converted with a low, crossed shot for his 126th international goal. Late attempts by the captain hit the goalpost and sailed over the crossbar before the final whistle.
Discourse on Legacy and International Records
Following the match, Messi addressed the stadium supporters from the pitch, offering an emotional speech in which he remembered his late father and representative, Jorge, who passed away on August 6, 2026. Scaloni told post-match media that managing Messi had been a dream and declared that another player of his caliber would not emerge. Across 21 years since his debut against Hungary in 2005, Messi accumulated 208 matches, 126 goals, and 70 assists for his country. His career haul includes the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the 2008 Olympic gold medal, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Transition to a New Generation for Argentina
Scaloni’s squad shifts its focus ahead toward the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
