On Tuesday, October 6, Lionel Messi made his final appearance for the Argentina national team in a friendly match against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental. This game marked the end of an illustrious international career spanning over two decades.
Having debuted 21 years ago, the 39-year-old Messi retired from international football in August, shortly after captaining Argentina to a second-place finish at the 2026 World Cup. Throughout his tenure with the national side, Messi amassed a record 207 caps and scored 105 goals, solidifying his status as one of Argentina’s greatest players.
A Celebrated Career Comes to a Close
Messi’s international legacy includes lifting the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy and winning two Copa América titles. His farewell match was a fitting tribute, with Argentina securing a convincing 3-0 victory over Benin.
During the match, Messi remained actively involved, winning free kicks and attempting shots, including a late direct free kick that went just over the bar. Despite some close calls, Argentina maintained control throughout the game, demonstrating their dominance on home soil.
The final moments saw several substitutions from the Benin side and a few fouls that earned Argentina additional set-piece opportunities, but no further goals were scored. The match concluded with the scoreboard reading Argentina 3, Benin 0, sealing Messi’s farewell with a solid team performance.