Messi Argentina Farewell became one of the biggest football moments of October 7 as Lionel Messi ended his extraordinary international career with Argentina. The 39 year old captain scored one goal and created two more in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin. More than 85,000 supporters filled the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires to watch one of the greatest players in football history wear the Argentina shirt for the final time.
The match was about much more than the result. Argentina turned the night into a national celebration of Messi’s 21 years with the team. Streets and landmarks around Buenos Aires were decorated in the country’s blue and white colors. Inside the stadium, supporters sang the national anthem and created a huge atmosphere before and during the game. Fireworks and other celebrations added to the feeling that the country was saying goodbye to a major part of its sporting history.
Messi was visibly emotional throughout the evening. His family watched from the stands, along with members of Argentina’s World Cup winning teams from different generations. After the match, Messi spoke about his pride in wearing the national shirt for more than two decades. He also remembered his father, whose recent death added another emotional layer to the occasion.
The football itself gave Messi the perfect ending. After a goalless first half, he helped Argentina open the scoring by setting up Nicolas Otamendi. Otamendi had shared many years with Messi in the national team and was also ending his international career. Messi then created the second goal for Nico Paz, one of the younger players who may help lead Argentina in the future.
Messi completed the night by scoring a penalty for Argentina’s third goal. It was his 126th international goal. The goal produced another huge celebration inside the stadium as fans repeatedly chanted his name. It was a fitting final moment for a player who spent years carrying the hopes of Argentine supporters and who eventually helped deliver major international trophies.
His career with Argentina was not always easy. For many years, Messi faced intense criticism whenever the team failed to win. Some supporters compared him with Diego Maradona and questioned whether he could lead Argentina to a major title. That pressure changed after Argentina won the Copa America and later the World Cup. Messi’s international career ended with the respect of a country that now sees him as one of its greatest sporting figures.
Messi leaves the national team as Argentina’s most capped player, with 208 appearances, and its leading scorer. He helped Argentina win major international titles and became the central figure in one of the country’s most successful football periods. His final match also marked the end of Nicolas Otamendi’s international career, adding another layer to the farewell.
The night ended with emotional celebrations rather than a demand for another performance. Teammates, opponents and officials gathered around Messi after the final whistle. A drone show lit up the sky while music and tributes continued. Messi will keep playing club football, but his Argentina story is now complete. After 21 years, 208 appearances and 126 goals, the national team has said goodbye to a player who changed Argentine football forever.
