Real Madrid wins over Elche 3-2 despite the opponent's lead, James Rodriguez announces his international retirement, and Messi is invited to a friendly match in Argentina

Real Madrid wasted a two-goal lead against Elche on Tuesday in the Spanish Premier League, but striker Carlos Espe came off the bench to give coach Jose Mourinho's team an exciting 3-2 victory.

Real Madrid opened the scoring in the 25th minute when a free kick taken by Arda Guler bounced off the post and then collided with Elche goalkeeper Matias DeToro and into the net.

Eight minutes later, new signing Yann Diomande provided an assist after passing a cross that was met by an unmarked Kylian Mbappe with a direct shot into the net.

The score remained 2-0 until the 71st minute, when Abel Osorio scored his first goal for Elche with a header after a cross pass.

In the 83rd minute, a mistake by Mark Cucurría caused the ball to reach Elche striker Vir Nino, who shot it brilliantly into the corner to give his team a draw.

But coach Mourinho's team snatched the three points in the first minute of stoppage time, when substitute Espey scored the winning goal after a pass from Mbappe.

Real Madrid raised its score to 15 points, equal to Barcelona, ​​which played one match less, while Elche remained without any victory at the bottom of the standings.

Colombian football star James Rodriguez, one of the best players in his country's history, ended his international career on Tuesday after 15 years and three World Cup appearances.

“I leave feeling reassured because I know I gave everything I had,” the 35-year-old leader said in a video clip on social media, his eyes filled with tears.

Rodriguez led himself and his country to the spotlight at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when Los Cafeteros reached the quarter-finals for the first time. The playmaker was also crowned with the tournament's Golden Shoe as the best scorer and became a global star.

Although his career at the club level in recent years was marred by his transfer between many clubs and his influence declined significantly, he remained an essential element in the ranks of the Colombian national team that reached the Copa America final two years ago.

But he failed to score any goals in the World Cup this year, and his Bayern Munich teammate, Luis Diaz, caught the spotlight.

The former Real Madrid midfielder joined Atletico Nacional last week.

Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, confirmed that Lionel Messi has been summoned to participate in a friendly match at home in Argentina next October for his farewell appearance after his retirement from international football.

Tapia said on social media on Tuesday: “We invited the best player in the world, and our captain Lionel Andres Messi, to participate in the match and give him a befitting farewell on October 6th here in Argentina.”

Argentina will play three friendly matches at home during the international break set by FIFA between September 21 and October 6, in the team's first appearance since the World Cup.

The Argentine national team will face Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, where Messi, who announced his retirement from international football last month, was invited to play his farewell match.

Argentina will also meet Bolivia at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba on September 30, before moving to Buenos Aires to host Burkina Faso on October 3.

The Bolivia match will be held with a reduced audience attendance of 50 percent as part of the sanctions imposed by FIFA due to events witnessed at this year's World Cup.

Leandro Paredes, Nauel Molina and Thiago Almada will have to serve suspensions of ten, seven and one match, respectively, due to their roles in the altercation that occurred during the World Cup final against Spain.