Lionel Messi ended his international career with Argentina, walking off the pitch to an emotional, stadium-wide ovation after leading his country to a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Reports from German broadcaster ntv detailed an evening marked by fireworks, fan chants, and tearful farewells as the country’s all-time leading scorer and appearance maker stepped away from the Albiceleste.
Monumental Stadium Tribute for Final Match
Before kickoff at the 85,000-capacity venue, stadium announcers called the superstar’s name for a final time to an ohrenbetäubend, or deafening, roar from the stands. Messi walked onto the pitch alongside his three sons—Thiago, 13, Mateo, 11, and Ciro, 8—while his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and mother, Celia Cuccittini, watched from a VIP box. Falkland War veteran Fabio Santana sang the national anthem as Messi’s eyes grew glassy with tears. Ground staff unfurled a massive light blue and white jersey across the turf featuring his trademark number 10 and the word “Gracias” printed in large golden letters.
Ahead of the match, Messi posted a video on Instagram addressing supporters: “The moment has come. (…) This jersey was my dream, my pride, and my life. Thank you for loving me so much, I will miss you.”
On-Pitch Farewell Gala Against Benin
Messi marked his final appearance on the pitch by contributing directly to all three goals in the 3-0 friendly win over Benin. Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring in the 48th minute, followed by a goal from Nico Paz in the 61st minute. Messi capped the night himself by converting a penalty kick in the 71st minute.
Addressing the crowd after the final whistle, Messi reflected on his two decades representing his country. “It was a great honor for me to wear this jersey for more than 20 years,” Messi told the audience. “Now I am here on the saddest day of my career, namely the day I have to say goodbye to the national team, to all of you.” He added that although he ideally wanted to play for Argentina for his entire life, he felt the timing was right to step down.
Two Decades of Record-Breaking International Career
The fixture marked the conclusion of an international tenure that began under difficult circumstances on August 17, 2005, against Hungary. During that debut, a young Messi entered as a substitute and received a red card from German referee Markus Merk for violent conduct in less than a minute.
It took years for Messi to secure major silverware with the senior national team, a drought that ended with the 2021 Copa América title. That victory preceded the defining triumph of his career: winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He followed those successes with another Copa América title in 2024, alongside runner-up finishes at the 2014 and 2026 World Cups. He departs as Argentina’s record appearance maker with 208 caps and all-time leading goalscorer with 126 international goals.
Club Future at Inter Miami
While his international career with Argentina has reached its end, Messi remains active at club level. The forward continues to play for Inter Miami.
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