Lionel Messi is closing the final chapter of his international career, preparing to play his 208th and final match for the Argentina national team against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, bild.de reported. After 21 years with the Albiceleste, the 39-year-old arrives at his farewell fixture holding records for both appearances and goals for his country.
The Red Card That Started Two Decades in Blue and White
Messi’s international history began on August 17, 2005, in a friendly match against Hungary. Entering as an 18-year-old substitute in the 63rd minute, the young forward from Rosario was shown a red card for a Tätlichkeit just one minute later. He scored his first international goal months later on March 1, 2006, curling in a left-footed shot during a 3-2 defeat against Croatia.
Early Tournament Struggles and Olympic Gold in Beijing
The forward’s first World Cup campaign in Germany in 2006 brought mixed fortunes. He scored his maiden World Cup goal in a 6-0 group stage victory over Serbia and Montenegro, becoming Argentina’s youngest tournament scorer, but sat on the bench for 120 minutes during a penalty-shootout quarterfinal exit against Germany. A year later, Argentina suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Copa América final. Redemption arrived in August 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, where Messi won a gold medal after a 1-0 win over Nigeria secured by an Ángel Di María goal.
The Maradona Era and the Burden of the Number 10
Diego Maradona took charge as national team coach in October 2008 and handed Messi the iconic number 10 shirt following Juan Román Riquelme’s retirement. Maradona first gave Messi the captain’s armband during the 2010 World Cup group stage against Greece while Javier Mascherano rested, a leadership role later made permanent under manager Alejandro Sabella.
Heartbreak in Rio and the Brief Retirement of 2016
Argentina reached the 2014 World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro, where Mario Götze scored an extra-time winner to give Germany a 1-0 victory. Messi received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, but walked up the Maracanã steps for his silver medal with a lowered head. After losing two Copa América finals to Chile, Messi announced his retirement from international football on July 27, 2016, at age 29, though he reversed the decision shortly after.
Copa América Triumphs and World Cup Glory in Qatar
The long-awaited senior trophy arrived on July 10, 2021, when Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 in the Copa América final at the Maracanã, with Di María scoring the decisive goal again. That success set the stage for the December 18, 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where Argentina beat France on penalties following a 7-5 shootout. Messi scored twice in the match and claimed his second Golden Ball. He added another Copa América title on July 14, 2024, defeating Colombia 1-0 in extra time.
A Sixth World Cup and the Final Tears in New York
Messi made his record sixth World Cup appearance in 2026, guiding his team back to the final after a dramatic 3-2 extra-time win over Egypt in the round of 16 where he contributed a goal and an assist. In the final near New York on July 19, 2026, Spain proved too strong, winning 1-0 in extra time. Following the defeat, where US President Donald Trump presented the silver medal, Messi announced his permanent retirement from international competition, concluding a career spanning 207 appearances, 125 goals, and 68 assists before his final appearance in Buenos Aires.
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