Lionel Messi has officially retired from the Argentina national football team. Read about how the renowned champion said goodbye to the national team in the RIA Novosti Sport article.
A special day for Argentina
For most of Lionel Messi's career, the Argentine, along with his nuances that highlight his uniqueness, has been the subject of comparison with another unique footballer: Cristiano Ronaldo. Goals, records, trophies, achievements, crazy numbers - all this will surround the phenomenal careers of two giants who have become an example for many generations for a very long time. We have highlighted some of these points in this material.
And even in today’s relations with the main football team of his country, Messi, against the backdrop of Ronaldo, again emerged victorious. While the star Portuguese takes his personal grievances against the coach to the public and loudly scandals out of the blue, Leo, in a kind, family-like and very touching way, vacated his place in the locker room of his native team, passing the baton to its future heroes.
The fact that Messi would end his international career was clear immediately after the final match of the 2026 World Cup, when Leo looked into the stands with Argentine fans and cried, while behind him the Spaniards celebrated their victory and took turns lifting the World Cup. But all of Argentina and its legendary captain agreed that the great footballer should say goodbye to the national team jersey at home, at the no less great and legendary Monumental stadium, which historically is the main stadium for the Argentine national team.
"Some stories deserve a stage worthy of their stature. And Lionel Messi's story with Argentina will end at the Estadio Monumental, where the captain will wear the blue and white jersey for the last time to say goodbye to his people. For an exceptional last dance can only be done at home. From the young man who first donned the Argentine jersey to the captain who won the most important trophies, Messi has written a story that no longer belongs solely to his career - it is part of Argentina's heritage. Now we look back at Messi's journey with the Argentina national team and the moments that defined his connection with the national team. This last tango is a tribute,” such a beautiful text was published by the Argentine Football Association on the eve of Messi’s last match in the national team.
© REUTERS / RODRIGO VALLEFans of the Argentina national team before Lionel Messi's farewell match for the national team
© REUTERS / RODRIGO VALLE
Fans of the Argentina national team before Lionel Messi's farewell match for the national team
Tears. Lots of tears
The whole world knows about Argentina's special love for football. Today everyone learned about the love of Argentines for Lionel Messi, even those who still had some doubts about this matter.
A few hours before the Argentina-Benin match, the streets of many cities in the country - from Buenos Aires to Rosario - were literally “flooded” with waves of fans. Those who were unable to get a precious ticket to the “Monumental” united with the whole people to watch side by side the legend’s last game for the national team.
© AP Photo / Rodrigo AbdArgentina fans before Lionel Messi's farewell match for the national team
© AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd
Fans of the Argentina national team before Lionel Messi's farewell match for the national team
Naturally, many tears of happiness and sadness were shed at the same time. Messi himself burst into tears on the way to the stadium, seeing how crowds of people with flags and pyrotechnics surrounded and followed the Albiceleste team bus on the way to the arena, singing songs in honor of the legendary one and thanking him for his greatness. Lionel Scaloni was also in tears. The head coach of the Argentina national team could not contain his emotions either during the pre-match warm-up, or during the national anthem, or during and after the match.
© Social networksLionel Messi
© Social networks
Lionel Messi
At this time, in the sky above Rosario, Leo’s hometown, a huge Argentina national team jersey with the name and number of its illustrious native was stretched out on a special helicopter.
The match itself against the modest Benin team, ranked 89th in the FIFA rankings, although it had the status of a friendly match, had unique attributes.
On the occasion of Messi's farewell match, the Argentina national team prepared a special uniform: the names and numbers of the players were made in gold, symbolizing the value of the victories that the Argentines had won over these 20 years with Leo, and the sun from the Argentine national flag was printed on the back of the T-shirt.
© Photo: x.com/argentinaLionel Messi's uniform for his farewell match in the Argentina national football team
© Photo: x.com/argentina
Lionel Messi's farewell uniform for the Argentina national football team
A special game ball was also used, which featured the blue and white colors, Messi's gold number ten and the slogan "Last Tango".
Even before the game, the 39-year-old Argentine was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires. The decision to award him this title was unanimously adopted by the UBA Supreme Council as a sign of gratitude for the footballer’s sporting achievements and his contribution to the country’s success in the international arena.
© Photo : x.com/argentinaLionel Messi
© Photo: x.com/argentina
Lionel Messi
The bowl of the 85,000-seat Monumental arena was filled more than an hour before the match. The players from both teams had not even had time to warm up. The crowded stands jumped as one, sang and shouted: “Messi! Messi! Messi!” Only the players of the Benin national team who had arrived at the stadium and had not yet changed into their playing uniforms entered the field to assess the scale of the event. All of them captured images of real madness - in the end, they themselves became part of a great story.
© AP Photo / Natacha Pisarenko Fans of the Argentina national team before Lionel Messi's farewell match for the national team
© AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Fans of the Argentina national team before Lionel Messi's farewell match for the national team
A bright ceremony, gifts, applause, fireworks. And again tears
Before the teams entered the match, a giant Argentina national team jersey with the number “10” and the golden inscription “Gracias” (from Spanish - thank you) instead of Messi’s surname was stretched out on the Monumental football field.
© AP Photo / Rodrigo AbdCeremony in honor of Lionel Messi's last match for the Argentina national team
© AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd
Ceremony in honor of Lionel Messi's last match for Argentina
“Thank you” and other words of gratitude to Leo today were as many as the hero of the match gave for the success of the Argentine team.
Messi himself entered the field with his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, and during the playing of the national anthem he also could not hold back his tears.
© REUTERS / Matias BagliettoLionel Messi
© REUTERS / Matias Baglietto
Lionel Messi
Benin's players also thanked Messi for his contribution to football and for the opportunity to see Leo off the international stage. During the exchange of pennants before the start of the match, Benin captain Sessy D'Almeida presented Messi with a national statuette, a rose branch, a national team jersey and a letter of congratulations from the Benin delegation.
© REUTERS / RODRIGO VALLELionel Messi
© REUTERS / RODRIGO VALLE
Lionel Messi
Already during the meeting, the match was suspended in the tenth minute, which is symbolic, considering what number Messi plays under. In his honor, during a minute pause, a volley of fireworks was launched at the stadium, and the players and coaches of both teams, along with the fans, gave Lionel loud applause.
© REUTERS / Matias BagliettoLionel Messi
© REUTERS / Matias Baglietto
Lionel Messi
All for Messi's goal
Despite the special atmosphere of the match, the Argentines initially reacted somewhat mediocrely to the game with Benin. The Albiceleste acted very impressively in the first 20 minutes of the meeting and repeatedly allowed critical moments to arise near their goal. But later the Argentines remembered why they had actually gathered today.
The “blue and white” created several scoring chances for their captain before the break. For example, Messi had a great chance to score after firing from outside the penalty area towards the far post. Leo, while falling, completed the cross and shot - the ball flew close to the post. However, for the “ten” of the Argentina national team it’s even good that the goal did not happen, because at the moment of the pass the legendary forward was slightly offside.
© AP Photo / Natacha PisarenkoLionel Messi
© AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Lionel Messi
In another episode, Messi was in the right position, but again he lacked some centimeters to score a goal. Lautaro Martinez made a spectacular pass from the left half-flank with the outside of his right foot exactly to Leo, who again crossed at the far post while falling. The ball flew just past the goal.
Between these moments, Messi also scored with a dangerous free-kick from a distance of about 30 meters from the goal. Lionel made a tight shot towards the near bottom corner - Benin national team goalkeeper Marcel Dandzhinu prevented the goal from happening.
But Messi came up with the goals
The Argentine team left the goal celebration for the second half. His “albiceleste” began to be much more active and immediately created several dangerous approaches to the Benin goal. Naturally, the Argentines looked for Messi in striking positions whenever possible, but Leo acted somewhat differently, recalling that he stands out not only for his goal-scoring abilities, but also for his ability to create goals for his partners.
In the 48th minute of the match, Messi delivered a high-quality cross from the corner directly to Nicolas Otamendi, who fired into Danjina's goal from close range. This goal also had its own symbolism, because Otamendi is not only a close and long-time friend of Messi, but also another famous veteran of the Argentina national team. A few minutes after the goal was scored, the 38-year-old defender was replaced to loud applause from the fans.
© AP Photo / Gustavo Garello Lionel Messi celebrates Nicolas Otamendi's goal
© AP Photo/Gustavo Garello
Lionel Messi celebrates Nicolas Otamendi's goal
In the 61st minute, Messi again acted as an assistant. Having received the ball on the right flank, Leo moved slightly to the center and got closer to the penalty area, after which he passed to the speeding Nicolas Paz, who had come on as a substitute a few moments earlier. Paz did not invent anything and, having barely handled the ball, immediately shot. And I got it! "Round" spectacularly flew into the far corner of the Benin goal.
Finally, Messi did not do without scoring a goal. During another attack by the Argentina national team, Blue and White defender Agustin Hyay found himself in Benin's penalty area. While fighting for the ball, he was hit on the legs by an opponent, and the match referee immediately pointed to the spot. Messi took the 11-meter kick as confidently as possible and sent the ball into the upper right corner. The Benin national team goalkeeper jumped in the opposite direction. Lionel was immediately surrounded by all the players of the Argentine national team, who did not even begin to rock their captain in their arms.
© REUTERS / Matias BagliettoLionel Messi celebrates a goal
© REUTERS / Matias Baglietto
Lionel Messi celebrates a goal
A little later, Leo almost scored a double, finishing a cool cross from outside the goalkeeper's area. The ball somehow inexplicably went past the goal, which was subsequently vacated by Danjina - he was replaced by Saturnin Allagbe. He also had the opportunity to miss a historic goal from Messi, but Leo felt sorry for the second goalkeeper of the Benin team, including not converting the most dangerous free kick from his favorite position in the last minute.
As a result, 3:0 - Lionel Messi's last match for the Argentina national team ended in a confident victory for the Albiceleste, with the direct participation of the now former team captain, who scored 1+2.
© REUTERS / Matias BagliettoLionel Messi celebrates a goal
© REUTERS / Matias Baglietto
Lionel Messi celebrates a goal
"I'm thinking about my father"
However, for the Argentines themselves, Messi will always be a leader. “Captain forever” - these are the words that were displayed on the banners that were stretched in the center of the football field during the post-match ceremony.
A large musical concert was organized in honor of the hero of the nation; songs from folk singers were dedicated to him. Messi himself did not miss the opportunity to address the fans.
"This evening is special for me. Today I am overwhelmed with a variety of emotions, but the first person I think about now is my dad. As for saying goodbye to the Argentina national team, I never gave up and fought for this shirt. I did everything for the national team. I always fought, fought, gave my best, even in the darkest times. For 20 years I gave my all for Argentina," said Messi, who lost his father last summer Jorge, who died after a long illness.
© REUTERS / RODRIGO VALLELionel Messi
© REUTERS / RODRIGO VALLE
Lionel Messi
In addition, Leo spoke about the latest World Cups: both the victorious 2022 and the recent 2026 World Cup, in which Argentina reached the final but lost. In his speech, Messi jabbed at the haters of the Argentine team:
“I would like to say something about the last World Cup. This year we were close to winning, but... I know that many people said all sorts of things about us. However, I want to say that there was no reason for these strange words. There are people who want to see our national team fail. We should not give them this pleasure. I remember how we all celebrated the victory in the World Cup in 2022. This will forever remain in my memory. Thank you all for your support. I love you very much.”
Lionel Messi
Legend
During Messi's powerful speech, everyone cried: Scaloni, the Argentine national team players, the fans, even Leo's sons. But Lionel himself, not without difficulty, nevertheless held back his tears. After the speech, Messi, together with his children and wife, took a lap of honor along the stands of the Monumental. Throughout their journey to the podium to the locker room, Leo heard numerous “thank yous” from both fans and teammates.
© REUTERS / Matias BagliettoLionel Messi
© REUTERS / Matias Baglietto
Lionel Messi
