Argentina won a big victory in Messi's farewell match

MOSCOW, October 7 - RIA Novosti. The Argentina national football team defeated the Benin team at home in a friendly match, which became the last for eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi as part of the Albiceleste.

The meeting took place in Buenos Aires and ended with a score of 3:0 in favor of the home team. For the Argentina national team, the goals were scored by Nicolas Otamendi (48th minute), Nicolas Paz (61) and Lionel Messi (71), who converted the penalty.

Messi led the national team onto the field as captain, spent the entire match on the field, scored a goal and recorded two assists. The last meeting was the Argentine’s 208th as part of the national team.

The Argentina national team played in the last match wearing T-shirts with a special design. The names and numbers of the players are made in gold, and on the back of the T-shirt is the “May Sun” - one of the national symbols of Argentina.

At the end of August, Messi, who plays for Inter Miami in the North American Major League Soccer (MLS), announced his retirement from the national team. The Argentine said that he made this decision on July 21, two days after the World Cup final. In September, the AFA called up Messi for a friendly match against Benin.