Lionel Messi Bids Tearful Farewell to Argentina With 1 Goal, 2 Assists After 21-Year Career

Lionel Messi has officially said goodbye to the Argentina national team after a memorable final international appearance. The 39-year-old captain scored one goal and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The emotional farewell brought an end to Messi's extraordinary 21-year international career, during which he became Argentina's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.

Messi's Emotional Farewell Ends With Goal and Two Assists

Messi made sure his final appearance in the Argentina jersey was one to remember.

The Argentina captain assisted Nicolás Otamendi from a corner early in the second half before setting up Nico Paz for the team's second goal. Messi then completed the scoring himself in the 71st minute, converting a penalty to make it 3-0.

The performance meant Messi was directly involved in all three of Argentina's goals in his farewell match.

Argentina Match Paused in 10th Minute for Messi Tribute

The emotional atmosphere at the Monumental was evident throughout the evening.

In the 10th minute, the match was briefly stopped as fans gave Messi a standing ovation in tribute to his iconic No. 10 shirt. The packed stadium erupted in applause as supporters celebrated the Argentina captain's contribution to the national team.

More than 85,000 fans were present for the farewell, creating an emotional setting for Messi's final appearance in front of the Argentine home crowd.

Messi Finishes Argentina Career With 208 Caps and 126 Goals

Messi leaves international football as Argentina's record holder.

His final statistics include:

208 international appearances

126 goals

70 assists

FIFA World Cup title in 2022

Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024

Finalissima title in 2022

Olympic gold medal in 2008

His 126th and final international goal came from the penalty spot against Benin.

A 21-Year Argentina Career Comes to an End

Messi's international journey began in 2005 and ended with an emotional night at the Monumental more than two decades later.

During that period, he experienced both difficult defeats and historic triumphs with Argentina. His greatest achievement came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when he captained Argentina to the title after a dramatic final against France.

He also helped Argentina win consecutive Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 Finalissima.

FIFA described his international career as lasting 21 years and noted that Messi scored once and assisted twice in the farewell victory over Benin.

Messi's Final Argentina Match: A Fitting Ending

Argentina's 3-0 victory over Benin provided an appropriate final chapter for one of the country's most decorated footballers.

Messi finished his last match with a goal, two assists and another victory for the national team. The emotional farewell from teammates and supporters marked the end of an era for Argentine football.

With his international career now complete, Messi leaves Argentina having set records for appearances and goals while winning the country's biggest international trophies.