Lionel Messi’s 208th and final international appearance ended in a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires.
Two decades in the famous sky-blue and white stripes came to a close at the Estadio Monumental, where Lionel Messi played his last match for Argentina in front of around 85,000 supporters.
The forward, who announced on August 31 that he would step away from the national team, was involved in all three goals of a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin. His corner was headed home by Nicolas Otamendi three minutes after the break, and he then set up Nicolas Paz on the hour. Roughly ten minutes later, Messi stepped up to convert a penalty, fittingly adding his own name to the scoresheet.
A night built around one player
The evening felt more like a ceremony than a fixture. Play was briefly halted early in the first half so the crowd could salute the captain, who had walked out with his three sons. Fireworks lit up the stands, and Messi wore a one-off shirt featuring broader stripes, a large sun emblem and a golden number 10.
Coach Lionel Scaloni’s side gave their talisman the send-off he wanted: a clean sheet, a comfortable win and a final goal for the record books.
The numbers behind the legend
Messi leaves the international stage as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. His trophy cabinet includes the 2022 World Cup and two Copa America titles, achievements that turned a once-troubled relationship with the national team into one of football’s great love stories.
Key facts
- Result: Argentina 3-0 Benin (friendly), Estadio Monumental
- Scorers: Otamendi 48′, Paz 61′, Messi (pen) ~71′
- Messi’s final tally: 208 caps, 126 goals
- Major titles with Argentina: World Cup 2022, two Copa Americas