End of an era: Messi retires from the Argentine national team after 21 years

Lionel Andrés Messi's story with the blue and white striped shirt has come to an end. At Monumental de Nuñez, in Buenos Aires, what mattered least was the score in the friendly against Benin - the South Americans won 3-0.

Tuesday night (6) was worth it for providing Argentine fans and the rest of the world with one last opportunity to see the number 10 parade, for the national team, the talent that made him one of the greatest players in history.

Messi said goodbye to the Albiceleste (albiceleste, translated from Spanish, the Argentine team's nickname) with 208 games, 126 goals and 70 assists. There were 21 years of selection and four titles: the 2021 and 2024 Copa América, the Finalíssima - a duel between the South American and European champions - and the World Cup, in 2022. The captain won the 2005 under-20 World Cup and gold at the 2008 Olympics (whose tournament is under-23) in Beijing (China).

On the bus, on the way to Monumental, Messi was already in tears, caught by the TV cameras that followed the trip. During the warm-up, it was Lionel Scaloni's turn - the coach with whom his idol finally became champion for Argentina in official tournaments - to not hold back his emotion. During the national anthem, the two let the tears run down their faces again.

Initially scheduled for 8pm (Brasília time), the duel in Buenos Aires started half an hour late. With the ball rolling, Messi was precisely the one who most sought the goal in the first half of the Argentine side, stopping twice in saves from goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou and twice more in shots to the outside.

Without pressure, the Benin team came closest to finding the net. The best chance was in the 18th minute. After a cross from striker Rodolfo Aloko from the right, midfielder Junior Olaitan anticipated goalkeeper Dibu Martínez in the small area and finished wide.

If the first half left a bittersweet feeling due to the 0-0 against a rival 91 places behind in the International Football Federation (Fifa) ranking, Messi and company solved the problem after half-time. After two minutes, the number 10 took a corner from the left and defender Nicolás Otamendi - who was also saying goodbye to the Argentine national team - sent it into the net first time. It was the star's 69th assist for the Albiceleste.

At ten, it was Messi's turn to be sent on the right and find Nico Paz at the edge of the area. The midfielder took the ball to his left leg and shot across, with no chance for Dandjinou. A symbolic goal, started with the 70th assist by the team's biggest star of the party and finished by a 22-year-old young man, precisely tipped to be the star's replacement.

Then came the climax of the night. In the 22nd minute, defender Taminau Ouorou fouled Palmeiras full-back Agustín Giay in the area. Clear penalty. And Messi didn't waste it. The striker took a shot into the left corner of Benin's goal, displacing Dandjinou. Ecstasy at Monumental, off and on the field.

Messi still had two great chances. At 29, he received a low cross from the left from striker Nico González and finished it wide, in front of the goal. At 43, his first shot in the right corner was saved by goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbé, who sent it onto the post.