Lionel Messi played his 208th and final match for the Argentina national team on Tuesday night, reaching a record of 126 international goals with his scoring in this match. The friendly match took place at the Estadio El Monumental in Buenos Aires and ended with a 3-0 victory for Argentina against Benin.
Messi's Brilliance in His Last Match
With the stadium filled with fans, Messi sparked joy and celebration among his teammates and supporters by converting a penalty in the 71st minute. Before this goal, he assisted two goals to his teammates Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz. As a young player, Nico Paz is recognized as Messi's successor in the number 10 jersey for Argentina.
In remarks after the match, Messi told the fans: "It was a great honor for me to wear this shirt. I can only thank you... Not returning to the national team will be very painful for me." A dramatic display in the sky above the stadium used drones to show the message: "Gracias, Leo!" and at the end, the drones formed an image of Messi's face.
Messi's Challenging Journey with the National Team
Messi, recognized as the greatest player in football history, announced on August 31 that he would retire from international football. This decision came right after Argentina's defeat in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain. In a statement, he wrote: "This is a painful decision and still is, but I know it is the right time."
Previously, Messi had also retired from the national team in 2016 after losing three consecutive finals with Argentina, including the 2014 World Cup final and two Copa America finals. However, he changed his mind and led Argentina to win the Copa America in 2021, ending a 28-year wait for a trophy. In 2022, he, along with the Argentina national team, became the World Cup champion, adding to the peak of his professional career in international football.
Although Messi has retired from international football, his contract with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) continues until 2028, and he will continue his club activities.
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