Messi scores and assists twice in emotional 208th and final Argentina appearance

Lionel Messi ended his international career in fitting style, scoring a penalty and setting up two goals as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in a farewell friendly at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. In front of 85,000 supporters, the 39-year-old made his 208th and final appearance for the Albiceleste, closing a chapter that spanned 21 years, 126 goals, a 2022 World Cup triumph, and two Copa América titles.

The match itself was a celebration from the first whistle. Defender Nicolás Otamendi headed home from a Messi corner in the 48th minute to open the scoring, before young midfielder Nicolás Paz doubled the lead in the 61st with an exquisite left-foot finish — assisted by Messi — that drew a roar of approval from the stands. Ten minutes later, Messi himself stepped up to convert a penalty into the top corner, adding one final entry to his record as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer.

The occasion was laden with ceremony. Ten minutes after kick-off, the referee paused the game to allow opponents and teammates to pay their respects to the Argentine captain, who acknowledged the crowd with a raised hand as fans rose for a standing ovation. The atmosphere intensified further when the national anthem was sung by a veteran of the 1982 Falklands War, leaving Messi visibly emotional — goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez placed an arm around his shoulders as the tears came.

Messi wore a specially designed Albiceleste jersey for the occasion, featuring wider vertical stripes than the standard kit, a large sun motif, and a golden No. 10 on the back. The shirt’s detailing incorporated a goat’s horns — a nod to his widely held status as the greatest footballer of all time. He was accompanied on the pitch by his three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, as a fireworks display lit up the Buenos Aires sky.

Messi made his senior debut for Argentina in 2005 as the designated successor to Diego Maradona, but his early international career was defined by near-misses and heartbreak. The 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar finally delivered the one honour that had eluded him, cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats and elevating him to the status of national hero in Argentina.

Messi announced on 31 August that the farewell match would mark the end of his international career, despite continuing to perform at a high level for Inter Miami in MLS. Tuesday’s send-off in Buenos Aires gave the country the chance to say goodbye on its own terms — loudly, emotionally, and with one last glimpse of the player who defined Argentine football for a generation.