Lionel Messi brought down the curtain on his glorious 21-year international career in characteristically captivating fashion on Tuesday night, scoring once and creating two goals as world champion Argentina comfortably defeated Benin 3-0 in a friendly match at the Estadio Más Monumental.
In front of a capacity crowd of over 85,000 supporters in the Argentine capital, the 39-year-old maestro orchestrated every piece of Argentina’s attack in his final appearance for La Albiceleste, closing out a storied journey that yielded 207 caps, 125 goals, and four major international titles.
After a competitive but goalless opening 45 minutes, Argentina broke through early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Messi delivered a precise set-piece into the penalty area, allowing veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi to turn the ball home and open the scoring.
Messi was at the heart of Argentina’s second goal in the 61st minute, carving open the West African nation’s defense with a weighted through-ball that young midfielder Nico Paz calmly converted past Benin goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbé.
The crowning moment arrived 20 minutes from time. After a VAR review awarded Argentina a penalty for a hand-ball in the box, Messi stepped up in the 71st minute to coolly slot the ball into the corner, sparking rapturous celebrations throughout the stadium.
Earlier in the contest, play was briefly halted during the 10th minute as players, officials, and supporters joined in a standing ovation to pay tribute to the wearing of the iconic number 10 shirt.
Reflecting on the emotional night during his post-match news conference, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni paid homage to his captain’s monumental legacy.
”We are witnessing the end of the most remarkable journey in international football history,” Scaloni said. “Leo gave everything to this jersey from his debut in 2005 through to his final minute tonight. It is an emotional day for our entire nation, but we leave this pitch filled with immense gratitude for everything he has done.”
When asked about the future of Messi’s jersey, Scaloni added: “We won’t give the number 10 shirt to anyone until Leo’s tribute match officially takes place. After that, we will see.”
Claudio Tapia, President of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), also addressed the crowd during a post-game ceremony on the pitch, presenting Messi with a commemorative plaque alongside his family.
”Tonight is about saying thank you to a player who transformed the history of Argentine sports forever,” Tapia said. “Leo gave us hope, joy, and unforgettable pride every time he represented our country.”
Messi leaves international football as South America’s all-time leading international scorer, having anchored Argentina to victory at the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
