Lionel Messi ended his Argentina career in unforgettable fashion on Tuesday, scoring once and setting up two goals as Argentina defeated Benin 3 0 in front of a packed Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
At 39, Messi played all 90 minutes in what Argentina had already begun calling his “last tango” with the national team. The result mattered, but the night belonged to the captain who had spent more than two decades wearing Argentina’s colours and turned his final appearance into a personal farewell.
The emotion began long before kick-off. A sold out crowd repeatedly chanted Messi’s name and sang in his honour as he prepared to play his 208th international match for Argentina.
His family watched from the stands, while his three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, joined him on the pitch for the national anthem. Messi’s mother and wife were also present for the occasion.
Then came the football.
Messi delivered one final performance for Argentina that reflected the influence he has had throughout his international career. He created the opening goal, helped produce the second and scored the third himself.
Messi Creates Argentina’s Opening Goal
Argentina took the lead in the 48th minute when Messi delivered a corner that Nicolas Otamendi headed into the net.
It was Messi’s first assist of the night, but there was more to come.
The Argentina captain later supplied Nico Paz, who scored the second goal to put the hosts firmly in control. Messi was involved in every Argentina goal before the night was over.
In the 70th minute, he completed the scoring himself.
Messi stepped up to take a penalty and calmly sent the ball into the net for his 126th international goal for Argentina.
The goal triggered another huge reaction inside the Monumental. Fans chanted his name as the emotion of the occasion became impossible to separate from the action on the pitch.
Messi had spent years producing defining moments for Argentina. On his final night, he produced one more.
An Emotional Goodbye to Argentina
After the final whistle, Messi addressed the supporters and acknowledged how difficult it would be to leave the national team.
“To not come here anymore is going to hurt a lot,” Messi told the crowd, according to multiple reports.
He also made clear how much representing Argentina had meant to him.
“If it were up to me, I would love to be here playing for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can ever happen to you,” he said.
For Messi, international football had included years of frustration before it became a period of extraordinary success.
He made his Argentina debut on August 17, 2005. From there, he became the country’s most capped player and its leading goalscorer.
He also became the captain in 2011, taking on the responsibility of leading a team that had endured several painful defeats on major stages.
His final appearance brought that chapter to an emotional close.
From World Cup Heartbreak to Argentina Glory
Messi represented Argentina at a record tying six World Cups.
His World Cup career included three final appearances. Argentina lost the 2014 final to Germany, before Messi finally lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022 after one of the most memorable finals in tournament history.
He scored 21 goals across his World Cup appearances.
The 2022 triumph completed a major part of Messi’s international journey. Argentina had also won the Copa America in 2021 and successfully defended the title in 2024.
Those victories changed the story surrounding Messi’s international career.
For years, criticism had followed him after Argentina fell short in major tournaments. The Copa America triumph in 2021 ended a long wait for a senior international trophy, while the World Cup victory in Qatar provided the achievement that had eluded him for so long.
By the time he walked onto the Monumental pitch for the final time, Messi was no longer chasing a missing trophy.
He was saying goodbye as a player who had won them all with Argentina
Messi Is Not Retiring From Football
Although Messi has ended his Argentina career, Tuesday’s farewell was not the end of his playing career.
He remains under contract with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer through the 2028 season.
That means supporters can still watch Messi play club football, even though his days with the Argentina national team are over.
Messi announced his decision to leave international football in August, saying, “The time has come.”
His decision brings an end to an international career that began as a teenager and lasted more than two decades.
The timing also comes after a difficult personal period.
Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, died on August 8 at the age of 68 after an unspecified illness. Jorge had played a major role in his son’s career, serving as his agent and managing his business affairs.
His death added another deeply personal element to Messi’s farewell.
Family Joined Messi for His Final Argentina Match
Family played a visible role throughout the evening.
Messi’s mother and wife watched from the stands as their husband and son made his final appearance for Argentina.
His three sons joined him on the field before kick-off for the national anthem, creating one of the most personal moments of the night.
For a player who first represented Argentina in 2005, the presence of his children offered a reminder of how much time had passed since his international journey began.
He was a young player then.
On Tuesday, he walked onto the field as Argentina’s captain, record appearance holder and record goalscorer.
The contrast was difficult to miss.
Messi Thanks Argentina Supporters
Messi used his farewell speech to thank the supporters and his teammates while reflecting on what representing Argentina had meant to him.
He told the crowd that he was proud to be Argentine and proud to have achieved his dream with them.
“Now, inevitably, I face the saddest day of my career: saying goodbye to the national team,” Messi said.
He then promised to remain connected to the team even after leaving international football.
“I'm going to miss you; I'm going to miss defending the national team's colors, but now I'll be right there alongside you, supporting these guys and everyone who comes after them,” he said.
“Always, always united.”
Those words captured the unusual nature of Messi’s farewell. He was leaving the Argentina team, but not walking away from the country or the supporters who had followed his career from its earliest days.
What Comes Next for Argentina?
Argentina now has to prepare for life without the player who has scored more goals and made more appearances for the national team than anyone else.
Messi’s departure also removes a captain who has led the side since 2011 and played through multiple generations of Argentine players.
The team will continue without him, while Messi turns his attention back to club football with Inter Miami.
But his final Argentina appearance provided a fitting final chapter.
One goal. Two assists. A 3 0 victory. A packed stadium chanting his name.
After 208 international appearances and 126 goals, Lionel Messi has played his final match for Argentina.
What is your favourite Lionel Messi moment in an Argentina shirt?