Lionel Messi scores and assists twice as Argentina defeat Benin, as the football icon makes his emotional international farewell.
Lionel Messi Bids Emotional Farewell To Argentina With Goal And Two Assists In ‘Last Tango’ defeat Benin, as the football icon makes his emotional international farewell.
Lionel Messi marked his final appearance for Argentina with a goal and two assists as the world champions defeated Benin 3-0 in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old, playing his 208th and final game for Argentina, scored his 126th international goal from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, sending the ball into the roof of the net at a packed Estadio Monumental.
The goal triggered a huge celebration as supporters chanted “Messi, Messi” in honour of the captain, who ends his international career after 21 years with two Copa América titles and a World Cup.
Messi also created Argentina’s other two goals.
He delivered the corner from which Nicolás Otamendi headed Argentina in front in the 48th minute before setting up Nico Paz, who curled the ball into the net.
The occasion had been billed as Messi’s “last tango” with the national team, and emotion surrounded the match from the beginning.
Messi was seen in tears as the Argentina team bus travelled through crowds of supporters towards the Monumental.
More tears followed before kick-off as Messi, accompanied by his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, stood for the Argentine national anthem for the final time.
After the match, Messi addressed the crowd and struggled to hide his emotion.
“I would love to keep coming back forever, because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you. The most beautiful thing,” Messi said.
He also reflected on the significance of returning to the Monumental after Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“I experienced one of the happiest days of my career here, the day we returned for our first match after the World Cup,” he said. “I will never forget what I witnessed that day; it was the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me.”
But Messi acknowledged the pain of ending his international career.
“Now, inevitably, I face the saddest day of my career: saying goodbye to the national team,” he continued. “Goodbye to all of you. 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. Always, always united.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni also paid tribute to Messi, saying his influence on the team would be difficult to replace.
“We can put together a great squad with the new guys coming up, but I’ve never seen that aura in anyone else in my life,” Scaloni said.
“That presence he creates won’t be there anymore. We’ll look for new ways forward, but that feeling will be gone. Having enjoyed the experience of coaching him was incredible, and now we have to carry on without him.”
The stadium paused in the 10th minute to honour Argentina’s legendary No. 10, with the entire crowd applauding while Benin players took turns shaking Messi’s hand.
“Come, come, sing with me, and a friend you’ll find; hand in hand with Leo Messi, we’ll all celebrate the victory,” supporters sang.
Messi had announced his international retirement after Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final defeat by Spain, saying, “The time has come.”
The Argentine Football Association later persuaded him to return for one final appearance.
More than 85,000 tickets for the farewell sold out within 90 minutes, with some later offered for more than $2,500 on resale sites.
Players from Argentina’s 1978, 1986 and 2022 World Cup-winning teams also joined the tribute.
“I just want to tell you that I love you and I’ll miss you,” Messi said. “I’m proud to be Argentine and to have fulfilled this dream with all of you. Thank you so much.”
Messi also reflected on Argentina’s latest World Cup campaign, where they reached the final before losing 1-0 to Spain in July.
“The last World Cup took a massive toll, everything I went through,” he said Tuesday. “We had a dream, my dream and the whole country’s dream, of becoming world champions again.”
Despite the defeat, Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists during the tournament, keeping him in contention for another Ballon d’Or.
He remains the only player to have won the award eight times.
Messi’s farewell also carried a personal significance following the death of his father, Jorge, who was 68. Jorge had served as his son’s agent and managed his business affairs throughout his career.
As he addressed the crowd, Messi said his father was the person he was thinking about most.
The forward achieved his greatest ambition with Argentina in 2022, leading the country to its first World Cup triumph since 1986 and emulating Diego Maradona.
He finishes his international career as Argentina’s record goalscorer and appearance holder.
Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has more men’s international appearances and goals, with 146 goals in 234 games.
Messi scored 21 World Cup goals and appeared at a record-equalling six tournaments alongside Ronaldo.
He briefly retired from international football in 2016 before returning to lead Argentina through its most successful period, winning the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 and the 2022 World Cup.
Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami, having recently won the Campeones Cup, his fourth trophy with the MLS side.
