The 39-year-old signed off in fitting fashion. Messi was involved in all three goals in the 3-0 victory, setting up Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz before converting a penalty for his 126th and final goal for the Albiceleste.
The farewell begins long before kick-off
The celebrations at the Monumental had already begun during the late afternoon. Several Argentine musicians and bands entertained the crowd during the long build-up, while the stands filled up unusually early. When Messi emerged for the warm-up, the entire stadium was already on its feet, greeting him with songs and applause.
The emotion intensified immediately before kick-off. A giant Argentina shirt bearing the number 10 and the word “Gracias” was unfurled on the pitch. Messi walked out alongside his children and, during the national anthem, struggled to hold back his tears. Head coach Lionel Scaloni was equally emotional.
Benin also played its part in the tribute. Captain Sessi D’Almeida presented Messi with a statue and a letter before the match. The Argentine then sought out his team-mates and embraced every one of them.
The match stops in the tenth minute
Even after kick-off, the sporting outcome temporarily remained secondary. In the tenth minute, referee Fernando Véjar stopped the match. The entire stadium rose to its feet, fireworks lit up the sky above the Monumental and the crowd chanted Messi’s name for several minutes. Benin’s players also joined in the tribute.
On the pitch, Argentina initially found the game more difficult than expected. Messi went looking for his own goal on several occasions and even tried to score directly from a corner. He had four attempts in the first half, but the goal everyone was waiting for did not arrive. Benin held out for 0-0 until the break.
The atmosphere nevertheless remained extraordinary. Almost every successful Messi action was celebrated, and whenever he prepared to shoot, sections of the crowd were already rising in anticipation of one final goal.
Two assists connect Argentina’s past and future
The breakthrough finally arrived three minutes after the restart. Messi delivered a corner into the penalty area and Nicolás Otamendi converted the chance. There was a fitting symbolism to the fact that one of his longest-serving team-mates finished off Messi’s first assist of the evening: the 38-year-old defender was also making his final international appearance after sharing the Argentina dressing room with Messi for 17 years.
The second assist followed in the 61st minute. Messi found substitute Nico Paz, and the 22-year-old struck from outside the penalty area with his left foot to make it 2-0.
That goal carried its own significance. After setting up one of the last remaining members of his generation, Messi had now created a goal for a player expected to be part of Argentina’s future. Paz is among those likely to assume greater responsibility in the national team’s attack in the years ahead.
Messi scores his 126th and final international goal
Ten minutes later came the moment the entire stadium had been waiting for. Agustín Giay was brought down heavily inside the penalty area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Messi picked up the ball and took responsibility.
The captain opted for an emphatic finish, driving the penalty high into the corner with his left foot. Marcel Dandjinou had no chance. It was 3-0 – and Messi’s 126th and final goal for Argentina.
The reaction was different even from the celebrations that had followed the first two goals. His team-mates sprinted towards Messi, surrounded him and celebrated almost like supporters themselves. Messi initially remained relatively composed before smiling at the jubilant circle around him and raising his arms towards the stands in appreciation. His wife Antonela Roccuzzo, mother Celia and his children also celebrated in the directors’ box.
His farewell almost produced another goal. Late on, another Messi effort was diverted onto the post. The final action of his international career belonged to him as well, with a free-kick sailing over the bar. Moments later, the referee blew the final whistle and handed Messi the match ball.
Drones, music and Messi’s final message
The final chapter of the farewell began at full-time. Team-mates, opponents and the referee gathered around Messi as his name continued to ring around the stands. A drone show then illuminated the sky above the Monumental, displaying, among other images, Messi’s number 10, the World Cup trophy, Argentina’s three stars and the captain himself.
Soledad Pastorutti then performed her song “Brindis”. Messi stood on the pitch alongside his family and team-mates before eventually taking the microphone himself. He spoke about more than two decades with the national team and also remembered his father Jorge, who had died in August.
“Not coming back here is going to hurt a lot. Playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you,” Messi said. He also spoke of his pride at having worn the Argentina shirt for more than 20 years.
A unique international career comes to an end
Messi ends his Argentina career with 208 appearances, 126 goals and 70 assists – all national records. With the senior team, he won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, the 2022 Finalissima and, above all, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His international honours also include the 2005 U20 World Cup and Olympic gold in 2008.
The journey was far from straightforward. For years, a major senior international trophy eluded Messi and, after another final defeat in 2016, he even briefly announced his retirement from international football. The Copa América triumph in 2021 and the World Cup victory in Qatar ultimately transformed the story of his relationship with the national team.
Twenty-one years after a debut against Hungary that lasted only a matter of seconds, Messi’s Argentina story ended at the Monumental – with two assists, one final goal and a stadium that continued to celebrate its captain long after the final whistle.
