Lionel Messi is set to make his final international appearance for Argentina tonight at El Monumental in front of 85,000 spectators, capping a historic career that included eight goals and four assists during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he led the Albiceleste to another final as the tournament’s second-leading scorer behind Kylian Mbappé.
El Monumental farewell draws 85,000 spectators
At 39 years old, Argentina’s captain is stepping away from international football after winning virtually every major honor available. As the milestone match arrived, figures across the global game offered tributes, including Brazilian star Neymar, his former teammate at FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Neymar honors the historic partnership
“Whoever loves football has enjoyed you throughout these years… Today is your last match with the shirt of your national team, of your country, and I hope you enjoy every second, that all of today’s tributes make you happy,” Neymar posted on social media, as reported by as.com.
The pair formed one of the most prolific forward lines in football history alongside Luis Suárez as part of Barcelona’s famous ‘MSN’ trio. Together under manager Luis Enrique, Messi and Neymar won the historic 2015 treble, capturing the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the Copa del Rey before later sharing a dressing room at PSG.
“Not only Argentina thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you have done for football. Thank you for making me love football even more; it was an honor to have played against you and, even more so, to have made history by your side. THANK YOU, Messi,” Neymar wrote.
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