BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Lionel Messi ended his Argentina career with a goal and two assists as the world champions defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium on Tuesday.
The match marked Messi’s final appearance for the national team in front of Argentine supporters.
More than two decades after making his senior debut, the 39-year-old closed the international chapter of his career with another decisive performance.
Messi leaves with a goal and victory
Argentina took control after a scoreless first half.
Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring before Nicolás Paz doubled the lead. Messi then completed the 3-0 victory with a penalty late in the match.
He also assisted the goals scored by Otamendi and Paz.
The result gave Messi a fitting final night in the Argentina shirt. The AFA described the match as his last appearance for the national team before the home crowd.
An emotional farewell
The Monumental was packed for Messi’s farewell.
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He became visibly emotional before kickoff during the Argentine national anthem. His three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, were also present for the pre-match ceremony.
The stadium then celebrated Messi throughout his final match.
The farewell followed Messi’s decision to retire from the Argentina national team after the 2026 World Cup. He had announced the decision on Aug. 31, ending a senior international career that began in 2005.
A record-breaking Argentina career
Messi finishes as Argentina’s most-capped player and leading scorer.
His final international record stands at 208 appearances and 126 goals. FIFA also lists 70 assists, 135 wins, 43 draws and 30 defeats.
His Argentina career included four major senior titles: the 2021 Copa América, 2022 Finalissima, 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa América. Argentina also reached the 2026 World Cup final during his final international campaign.
The 2022 World Cup victory ended Argentina’s long wait for another men’s World Cup title and became the defining achievement of Messi’s international career.
From criticism to national icon
Messi’s relationship with Argentina supporters changed significantly over his career.
His early years with the national team included criticism after several major tournament defeats. Argentina reached the 2014 World Cup final and lost the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals.
The criticism eased after Argentina began winning major titles.
The 2021 Copa América was followed by the Finalissima and World Cup triumph in 2022, then another Copa América title in 2024.
By the time of his farewell, Messi was being celebrated by the same national football culture that had once demanded more from him.
The Argentina chapter is over
Messi’s final match does not mark the end of his professional football career.
He remains a club player with Inter Miami, meaning his international retirement is separate from his future at club level.
For Argentina, however, the era has reached its final whistle.
Messi leaves the national team as its record appearance holder and top scorer, with a World Cup, two Copa América titles and the Finalissima among the major trophies won during his career.
His final night in Buenos Aires added one more goal, two assists and a victory to the record.
Reporting Credit: Asociación del Fútbol Argentino; FIFA; Argentina national team; Argentine Football Association match records; Estadio Monumental attendance records.
