Lionel Messi ended his international career with Argentina with a goal and two assists, contributing to all three goals in a 3-0 win over Benin in a friendly at the Monumental. The captain concluded his career in his 208th international appearance, during a farewell ceremony organised by the Argentine Football Association under the title ‘The Last Tango’.
Messi honoured before the farewell whistle
The tributes began before kick-off at River Plate’s home ground, as supporters held up images of Messi in the stands and a giant shirt bearing his name and number 10 appeared alongside fireworks displays. His family attended the occasion, and the player entered the pitch with his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro before being overcome by emotion and shedding tears.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was also visibly moved, appearing in tears before the match began. Benin’s players joined in honouring the home captain, before Messi’s final match in his country’s shirt got under way. In the 10th minute, play stopped and the Monumental crowd rose to applaud him, with the timing of the tribute linked to the number he wore throughout his international career.
Argentina settle the match after the break
Argentina applied early attacking pressure, with Messi the main source of danger in front of the Benin goal. He tested the goalkeeper with a powerful shot in the seventh minute, then continued to move and create chances, sending a dangerous cross towards Lautaro Martínez and coming close to scoring on several occasions in the first half.
Among Messi’s chances was a free-kick that almost deceived the Benin goalkeeper, but the visitors kept a clean sheet until half-time. Despite Argentina’s possession and their captain’s repeated attempts, the teams went into the dressing rooms goalless before the course of the match changed quickly after the break. The opening goal came in the 48th minute through defender Nicolás Otamendi, who capitalised on a corner taken by Messi.
Thirteen minutes later, Nico Paz added the second goal in the 61st minute after another assist from the captain, meaning Messi created Argentina’s first two goals on his farewell night. In the 71st minute, Argentina were awarded a penalty, which Messi took to score the third goal of the match and the 126th of his international career.
Messi’s international career from the beginning to the summit
Lionel Messi
Captain of Argentina
- 17 August 2005
First appearance
He scored both goals in the final victory over Nigeria, before being given the chance weeks later to play his first match for the senior team. On 17 August 2005, Messi came on as a substitute against Hungary, but his debut ended after just a few seconds when the referee showed him a red card.
- 2016
International retirement crisis
Pressure reached its peak in 2016, when Messi missed a penalty in the Copa América final against Chile. He then announced his international retirement before reversing his decision and returning to represent Argentina. The most successful phase of his international career began after Scaloni took charge of the team, as Messi went from a captain associated with lost finals to one who lifted trophies.
- 2021
First major title
The decisive shift came at the 2021 Copa América, when Argentina defeated Brazil at the Maracanã, giving Messi his first major title with the senior national team. The following year, Messi added the ‘Finalissima’ to his record after Argentina were crowned at Wembley.
- 18 December 2022
Lifting the World Cup
The defining moments of his international journey came in Qatar on 18 December 2022, when he lifted the World Cup at Lusail Stadium after a final in which Argentina and France drew 3-3 after extra time. Argentina won that final 4-2 on penalties, returning to the summit of world football for the first time since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
- 2024
A new Copa América
The triumph ended a 36-year wait and significantly changed Messi’s relationship with supporters in his country after years of criticism linked to the absence of trophies. Messi continued adding titles to his record with Argentina, winning the 2024 Copa América.
From that brief beginning, the player who came from Barcelona went on to become Argentina’s captain, all-time leading scorer and record holder for international appearances in the national shirt. His career was not without criticism and pressure, particularly during the years when the national team won no titles despite reaching finals.
The Monumental celebrates the final chapter of his career
In 2026, he played in the World Cup for the sixth time in his career and led his country to the final once again, before Argentina lost to Spain. After the final whistle against Benin, Messi remained on the Monumental pitch and embraced his team-mates before the final part of the tribute began.
A giant number 10 was displayed on the pitch, while drones formed an image of the player wearing Argentina’s shirt in the sky, alongside a large heart and the words ‘Gracias Argentina’, meaning ‘Thank you, Argentina’. Messi spoke to the crowd over the loudspeaker, saying it was difficult for him to speak at that moment because of his mixed emotions.
He described defending Argentina’s shirt for more than 20 years as a source of great pride, stressing that he had continued to fight and give everything he could for the team even during the most difficult periods he had experienced. Argentina’s captain thanked the team-mates who helped him fulfil his dream of winning the World Cup, Copa América and Finalissima, and also thanked the supporters who had accompanied him throughout his career.
After he finished speaking, fireworks once again lit up the Monumental sky. He then embraced his team-mates and met his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his sons on the pitch. Messi made one final tour in front of the stands to greet the supporters, who responded with applause and chants as the drone display continued and his image in the national shirt appeared in the sky.
In the final scene, he left the pitch with his family through a corridor formed by his team-mates on either side, as they lined up to greet and applaud him after his final international match.
