Messi broke down in tears before his farewell match for Argentina
Lionel Messi has completed his international career by playing his last match for Argentina against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires
Legendary footballer Lionel Messi could not hold back tears on the day of his last match for Argentina against the Benin team in Buenos Aires.
The La Nacion+ TV channel filmed the 39-year-old wiping his eyes with a headscarf on a club bus heading to the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
In his farewell game for the national team, Messi scored a goal from a penalty in the 71st minute, bringing his score to 126 goals, and gave two assists. He was on the field as a captain.
His goal caused a violent reaction of the stands - the fans chanted the name Lionel, and teammates came to congratulate him.
This meeting was Messi’s 208th in the national team. He is the top scorer in the history of the Spanish championship, Barcelona and Argentina, as well as the only eight-time winner of the Golden Ball in history.
For Argentina, he played 208 matches, scored 126 goals, won two Copa America (2021, 2024), the World Cup (2022), two World Cup silvers (2014, 2026) and Finalissima (2022).
