Lionel Scaloni described it as an emotional day as Lionel Messi concluded his international career, praising the forward as irreplaceable. Scaloni reflected on the privilege of having coached Messi, calling the experience a dream.
Messi marked his final appearance for Argentina by scoring in a 3-0 friendly victory against Benin. The match, which took place on October 7, 2026, brought to a close a legendary era for the national team.
Does anyone else feel like we never truly got a proper retirement ceremony? This felt a bit rushed.
3-0 and he still scores. The man doesn’t know how to stop. What a way to say goodbye.
Scaloni calling it a dream is sweet, but didn’t Messi carry the team for years before that final win?
What a magnificent era to witness. Messi leaves as a legend, and Scaloni handled it with such grace.