Lionel Messi’s Argentina farewell turned into an unforgettable night at the Monumental, with the legendary No. 10 breaking down in tears before and during his final international appearance. What was officially a friendly against Benin felt more like a celebration of an extraordinary era in Argentine football.
In front of more than 85,000 emotional supporters in Buenos Aires, Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 on Tuesday, with Messi scoring once and assisting the other two goals. The result was almost secondary, however. The night belonged to Messi and the millions of fans who had come to say goodbye to the player who delivered the World Cup and two Copa América titles to Argentina.
Messi could not hold back the tears
The emotion started before the first whistle. Messi walked onto the pitch alongside his three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, as the packed Monumental erupted in applause. A giant No. 10 shirt carrying the word “Gracias” was displayed as part of the tribute.
Then came the national anthem.
Standing alongside his Argentina teammates, Messi struggled to control his emotions. Tears rolled down his face as the anthem played, while Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was also visibly moved by the occasion. The Argentine Football Association described the moment as one of the most emotional scenes of the entire farewell night.
For Messi, it was the final time he would stand on an Argentine pitch wearing the national-team shirt in front of his home supporters.
The scene captured just how much his relationship with the Argentina shirt had changed over the years. Once heavily criticised for failing to deliver a major international trophy, Messi eventually became the symbol of Argentina’s greatest modern footballing era.
The Monumental stopped for Messi’s No. 10
The tribute continued once the match began.
When the clock reached the 10th minute, referee Fernando Véjar stopped play. The reason was obvious: Messi’s famous No. 10 shirt.
More than 80,000 supporters stood together and applauded their captain, while chants of Messi echoed around the Monumental. Fireworks added to the spectacle as the entire stadium celebrated a player who had worn the famous shirt for more than two decades.
Even the Benin players joined in the tribute. Several of them approached Messi during the stoppage to shake his hand and acknowledge his remarkable career.
It was a fitting reminder that Messi’s influence has gone far beyond Argentina.
Messi leaves the perfect final mark
After an emotional first half that ended goalless, Argentina finally broke through after the interval.
Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring in the 48th minute, with Messi providing the assist from a corner. The captain was involved again in the second goal, setting up Nico Paz in the 61st minute.
Then came the moment Argentina’s supporters had been waiting for.
In the 71st minute, Messi stepped up to take a penalty. He calmly sent the ball into the net to score his 126th international goal and make it 3-0.
It meant Messi had a direct hand in all three goals on his final night for Argentina — two assists and a goal.
There could hardly have been a more appropriate ending.
A 21-year international journey comes to an end
Messi’s final appearance was his 208th for Argentina, making him the country’s most-capped player as well as its record goalscorer. His international career stretched across 21 years and included some of the biggest highs and most difficult moments of his life in football.
He made his senior Argentina debut in 2005 and went on to become the central figure of a generation.
The biggest prize finally arrived at the 2021 Copa América, when Argentina defeated Brazil in the final at the Maracanã. That victory ended Argentina’s long wait for a major trophy with Messi at the centre of the team.
A year later came the defining achievement.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Messi led Argentina to glory, scoring throughout the tournament and producing one of the greatest individual World Cup campaigns in modern football history.
Argentina then retained continental success by winning the 2024 Copa América.
Those victories transformed the way Messi was viewed in his homeland. The player who had once carried the burden of comparisons with Diego Maradona was finally embraced without reservation.
From criticism to national icon
Messi’s Argentina story was never straightforward.
For years, every failure was placed on his shoulders. Argentina lost three consecutive major finals between 2014 and 2016, including the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and back-to-back Copa América finals against Chile.
There were moments when Messi even announced his international retirement.
But he returned.
And ultimately, he gave Argentina the trophies its supporters wanted most.
That is why the farewell against Benin carried such significance. It was not simply the final appearance of a superstar. It was a chance for an entire football nation to say thank you.
The packed Monumental provided the backdrop, while Messi’s family, teammates and former stars shared the occasion with him. Ángel Di María was among the familiar faces connected with Messi’s Argentina journey who were present for the emotional night.
Messi says goodbye, but his football journey continues
Although Messi’s international career with Argentina has ended, this is not the end of his football career.
The 39-year-old continues his club career with Inter Miami, meaning fans will still have opportunities to watch one of football’s greatest players on the pitch.
But the Argentina shirt will now belong to another generation.
Messi leaves behind numbers that may take decades to challenge: 208 appearances, 126 goals, major international trophies and a World Cup triumph that completed his collection of honours with the national team.
Most importantly, he leaves with the love of the Argentine people.
The tears during the anthem, the giant No. 10 shirt, the applause in the 10th minute and the final penalty all combined to create a farewell that felt almost scripted.
Argentina won 3-0.
Messi scored.
Messi assisted twice.
And after 21 extraordinary years, Lionel Messi finally said goodbye to the Argentina national team.
For supporters who grew up watching him, it was a moment that will stay with them forever.
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