Lionel Messi wrote his own farewell script, and it had everything. On Tuesday, October 6, the 39-year-old captain played his 208th and final game for Argentina, a 3-0 win over Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. He scored from the penalty spot, set up two more goals and cried his way through a night Argentina fans will never forget.
Tears Before Kickoff
The emotion started on the team bus, where cameras caught Messi in tears as it rolled through the crowds lining the route. In Rosario, a helicopter towed a giant replica of his No. 10 shirt across the city. Inside the stadium, Messi, coach Lionel Scaloni and Nicolás Otamendi all struggled through the national anthem, and fireworks exploded around another huge jersey at midfield. Messi also lined up with his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.
Benin Stop the Game for Messi
The tributes kept coming. In the tenth minute, play stopped for an extended standing ovation, and the Benin players lined up to shake Messi’s hand. Then Messi reminded everyone why they came. He tested goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou with a free kick in the 26th minute, and soon afterwards with a second effort in transition. The keeper denied both.
Messi Takes Over After Half-Time
The second half belonged to the number 10. In the 48th minute, Messi swung in a corner from the left and Otamendi, playing his own final international match, powered a header into the top corner.
Messi then picked out Nico Paz, who curled a stunning left-footed shot inside the post for 2-0 in the 61st minute.
The finale came in the 71st minute. After a foul in the box, who else would take the penalty? Messi struck it with his left foot into the roof of the net, scoring his 126th international goal and completing a hand in all three Argentina goals.
The Speech, the Cards and the Goodbye
After the final whistle, the referee handed Messi every yellow and red card in his pocket as a souvenir. A drone show lit up the sky in honour of the 2022 World Cup triumph.
Then Messi took the microphone and described the night as the saddest day of his career. “Not coming back is going to hurt so much,” he said afterwards, adding that he would keep returning for life if he could.
A Career in Numbers
Messi finishes with 208 caps, 126 goals, a World Cup, two Copa América titles and 21 years of service. The Monumental was a fitting stage, since he scored 19 international goals there, more than at any other ground.
Argentina vs Benin: Key Facts
- Result: Argentina 3-0 Benin, October 6, 2026
- Venue: Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
- Goals: Otamendi (48′), Paz (61′), Messi (71′, penalty)
- Messi: one goal, two assists, 90 minutes
What Next for Messi and Argentina?
His international farewell came less than three months after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain in July. Messi now returns to Inter Miami, where his contract runs through 2028.
Argentina, meanwhile, must decide who inherits the famous No. 10. Scaloni held it back until this match, and the young players already look ready after thrashing Bolivia 4-0 and Burkina Faso 7-0.
For anyone searching for Messi’s last game for Argentina, the answer is simple: a goal, two assists and a standing ovation that never seemed to end.
You can also check out our YouTube for more sport news @ShapHub
