Messi bids tearful farewell to Argentina with a decisive penalty

Lionel Messi marked his 208th and final appearance for Argentina with his 126th international goal as his country celebrated an emotional farewell to the legendary forward.

Tuesday’s friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, billed as “the last tango,” saw Messi end a 21‑year international career that includes two Copa América titles and a World Cup triumph.

The script called for at least one more goal from Messi, and the 39‑year‑old delivered with a left‑footed penalty in the 71st minute that drilled into the roof of the net. The sold‑out crowd at the Estadio Monumental erupted in a thunderous “Messi, Messi” chant.

“I would love to keep coming back forever, because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you. The most beautiful thing,” Messi told the fans after the final whistle.

After missing a couple of early chances, Messi still found a way to impact the match, providing two assists: a corner that Nicolás Otamendi headed home in the 48th minute and a pass that allowed Nico Paz to curl the ball into the net.

The Monumental proved a fitting backdrop for the farewell—Messi’s home ground where he netted 19 international goals and where Argentina celebrated their first World Cup triumph since 1986.

“I experienced one of the happiest days of my career here, the day we returned for our first match after the World Cup,” he recalled. “I will never forget what I witnessed that day; it was the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me.”

His remarks brought tears to countless faces, and his teammates gathered around him were also moved.

“Now, inevitably, I face the saddest day of my career: saying goodbye to the national team,” Messi continued. “Goodbye to all of you. I’m going to miss you; I’m going to miss defending the national team’s colors, but now I’ll be right there alongside you, supporting these guys and everyone who comes after them. Always, always united.”

The emotion began before kickoff. Messi was seen in tears as the Argentina team bus made its way through throngs of fans lining the route to the Estadio Monumental.

Further tears followed when the Argentine anthem played for the final time, with Messi—accompanied by his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro—part of the lineup. Coach Lionel Scaloni also shed tears during the solemn ceremony.

“We can put together a great squad with the new guys coming up, but I’ve never seen that aura in anyone else in my life,” Scaloni said of Messi after the match. “That presence he creates won’t be there anymore. We’ll look for new ways forward, but that feeling will be gone.”

A moment of reverence came in the 10th minute when the stadium paused for a standing ovation. Benin players took turns shaking Messi’s hand while the crowd sang, “Come, come, sing with me, and a friend you’ll find; hand in hand with Leo Messi, we’ll all celebrate the victory.”

Messi announced his international retirement shortly after the 2022 World Cup loss to Spain, saying, “The time has come.” The Argentine Football Association arranged a final farewell match, which sold out Buenos Aires’ largest stadium in under 90 minutes and later fetched tickets over $2,500 on resale sites. Legends from Argentina’s 1978, 1986 and 2022 World Cup squads attended alongside their families.

“I just want to tell you that I love you and I’ll miss you,” Messi told the crowd. “I’m proud to be Argentine and to have fulfilled this dream with all of you. Thank you so much.”

Although Argentina fell 1‑0 to Spain in a July friendly in New Jersey, ending a potential back‑to‑back World Cup run, Messi reflected on the toll of the tournament. “The last World Cup took a massive toll, everything I went through. We had a dream, my dream and the whole country’s dream, of becoming world champions again.”

His 2022 performance—eight goals and four assists—kept him in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, where he now faces contenders Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé. The Argentine star remains the only player to have won the award eight times.

In a personal tragedy, Messi’s father Jorge, who also acted as his agent and business manager, died in Argentina weeks after the World Cup at age 68. Messi said he was thinking of his father most as he stepped to the microphone on Tuesday.

Messi fulfilled his ultimate ambition by leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, echoing the feat of compatriot Diego Maradona. He ends his international career as Argentina’s all‑time leading scorer and appearance maker, surpassed only by Cristiano Ronaldo in men’s internationals (146 goals in 234 games). Messi scored 21 goals across six World Cup tournaments, matching Ronaldo’s record.

After a brief 2016 retirement, Messi enjoyed his most successful period with La Albiceleste, winning the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, in addition to the 2022 World Cup. He continues at club level with Inter Miami and recently captured the Campeones Cup, his fourth trophy with the MLS side.

ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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