Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina on Tuesday, October 6, scoring a goal and providing two assists as Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in an emotional farewell at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
More than 85,000 fans filled the stadium to watch Messi make his final appearance in the Argentina shirt after a 21-year international career. The night included tributes from the fans and players, with the match also paused in the 10th minute for a standing ovation in honor of Messi's famous No. 10 shirt.
Messi helped Argentina take the lead in the second half when his corner found Nicolás Otamendi, who scored in the 48th minute. He then assisted Nico Paz for Argentina's second goal in the 61st minute.
Messi completed the farewell with a penalty in the second half, giving Argentina a 3-0 lead and taking his international goal tally to 126. The appearance was his 208th for Argentina, both records for the national team.
The occasion was filled with emotion. Messi was seen in tears before the match, while his family and thousands of supporters watched him take the field for the final time. The farewell had been billed as “The Last Tango” and ended with further tributes after the final whistle.
Messi leaves Argentina with a major collection of international honors. He won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima. Earlier in his career, he also won the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup and Olympic gold with Argentina in 2008.
His final Argentina appearance closes the international chapter of a career that also included difficult years before he eventually won major trophies with the national team. He leaves as Argentina's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.
Messi will now continue his club career with Inter Miami, while Argentina begins the next chapter without the player who wore the No. 10 shirt for more than two decades.
