Football: For his farewell to the Argentina team, Messi offers one last goal to the Albiceleste

Lionel Messi is now a former international and the whole of Argentina football is crying. The eight-time Ballon d'Or played his last minutes with the Albiceleste on Tuesday in an atmosphere of fever mixing gratitude and already palpable nostalgia, for a farewell to a genius. The tears flowed of course, and to try to dry them, the iconic number 10 offered his audience a goal and assists.

A counter stopped on 126 goals

With 208 caps, and now 126 goals with the Argentina team, Messi played the entire match at the age of 39 in front of more than 80,000 privileged people at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, in a festive friendly match against Benin, beaten 3-0.

More in view of his team, Messi scored his 126th selection goal on a penalty (70th minute), and delivered two assists, his 66th and 67th with the Albiceleste, finding defender Nicolás Otamendi (48th) on a corner, who at 38 was also playing his last match with the Seleccion. And serving in the game Nicolás Paz (60th).

Untenable, with its vista and its position intact, the Pulga (the chip) could have scored two or three more, passing at the end of a crampon to connect crosses from Rodrigo De Paul, from Lautaro Martinez, and finding the post at the end of the second half.

This match was unlike any other, right down to this special jersey made for the occasion. Or the Argentinian anthem sung by a veteran of the Falklands War (1982). Or this stoppage of play in the 10th minute (tribute to N.10), punctuated by an ovation, again. Messi himself was overcome by emotion. On the bus to the stadium, where he was seen drying his eyes, again during the anthem. Tears also flowed down the cheek of his trainer Lionel Scaloni.

An avalanche of “Gracias”

And thanks everywhere. On billboards in town. On a gigantic banner in the stands: “Gracias por todo, mi capitan”. On a huge “N.10” jersey deployed on the pitch. Or on the “Gracias Leo” drawn in the sky by a drone show at the end of the match. Before a lap of honor from the left-handed genius. From the stands incessantly, chants flowed: “Come, come, sing with me, with Messi, we will do the lap of honor”, ​​“Muchachos” (song of Argentinian supporters at the 2022 World Cup), or the “Mes-si!” My-so! » chanted.

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Although he has hung up his boots with Argentina, Messi is not yet done with football. He is still under contract until 2028 with his club, Inter Miami. However, he had hinted that he might quit for good sooner than expected, after the death of his father and agent, Jorge, two months ago. While waiting to find out more, Tuesday evening, one last time, it was time for the Albiceleste. “It was a great source of pride for me to defend this jersey,” said the No. 10 into the microphone on the pitch after the match. “I have nothing but thanks […] Not coming back will be a great pain.”