BUENOS AIRES: The end of Lionel Messi’s Argentina journey became an emotional night at the Monumental Stadium as more than 85,000 fans watched their legendary No. 10 make his final appearance for the national team.
Messi turned the farewell into a fairytale, helping Argentina defeat Benin 3–0. He assisted the first two goals before scoring the third from the penalty spot — his 126th international goal.
After the final whistle, Messi was visibly emotional as teammates, opponents and fans surrounded him. His 21-year international career ends with 208 appearances, the most in Argentina's history, along with a 2022 World Cup title and two Copa América triumphs.
Messi also leaves behind an extraordinary World Cup legacy. Across six World Cups, he scored 21 goals, becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer during the 2026 edition.
With 931 official career goals at club and international level, Messi leaves football fans with a record book full of extraordinary numbers — but for Argentina, his greatest legacy may simply be the unforgettable joy he brought to a nation.
The Bharatio Times | Sports
Messi turned the farewell into a fairytale, helping Argentina defeat Benin 3–0. He assisted the first two goals before scoring the third from the penalty spot — his 126th international goal.
After the final whistle, Messi was visibly emotional as teammates, opponents and fans surrounded him. His 21-year international career ends with 208 appearances, the most in Argentina's history, along with a 2022 World Cup title and two Copa América triumphs.
Messi also leaves behind an extraordinary World Cup legacy. Across six World Cups, he scored 21 goals, becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer during the 2026 edition.
With 931 official career goals at club and international level, Messi leaves football fans with a record book full of extraordinary numbers — but for Argentina, his greatest legacy may simply be the unforgettable joy he brought to a nation.
The Bharatio Times | Sports