Lionel Messi concluded his illustrious international career on Tuesday night, scoring his 126th and final goal for Argentina in a 3-0 friendly victory against Benin. The match, held at a packed El Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, marked the end of an era for global football as the 39-year-old superstar played his 208th and last cap for the Albiceleste.
Messi opened the scoring in the 71st minute from the penalty spot, igniting jubilant celebrations among his teammates and the crowd. He had earlier contributed assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz. Otamendi also retired from international football following the match, while Paz is widely expected to take over Messi’s iconic number 10 jersey.
“It was a source of great pride for me to wear this jersey,” Messi said in an address to fans after the final whistle. “I can only express my gratitude… not coming back anymore will be deeply painful.” As full-time approached, drones above the stadium spelled out “Gracias, Leo!” before forming a profile of Messi’s face in the night sky.
Messi officially announced his retirement from international duty on August 31, less than a month after Argentina suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in East Rutherford, USA. Writing just two days after the loss, he stated, “It was a decision which hurts and still hurts but I know it’s the right time.” He added, “I swear that I have always given everything and that I have always fought for this shirt to make you happy and make you proud to be Argentinian through football. Thank you, God for making me Argentinian.”
While the 2026 World Cup final ended in disappointment, Messi’s crowning achievement came four years prior when he captained Argentina to victory in Qatar, defeating France on penalties following a dramatic 3-3 draw. That triumph capped a journey that was not always smooth; despite his dominance at club level with Barcelona, Messi faced immense pressure to live up to the legacy of Diego Maradona in Argentina.
He previously announced a retirement in 2016 after three consecutive final defeats— the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals against Chile. However, he reversed that decision, leading Argentina to Copa America glory in 2021, ending a 28-year trophy drought, before securing the World Cup in 2022.
Messi remains under contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami until 2028. The match against Benin served as a fitting farewell to one of the sport’s greatest players, remembered by fans as the rightful successor to Maradona.
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