Lionel Messi ended his international career in memorable fashion as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Messi scored once and assisted the other two goals in his final appearance for the national team.

The 39-year-old walked onto the pitch for the last time in Argentina’s famous blue-and-white shirt in front of more than 85,000 supporters. The night was filled with tributes, emotion and repeated chants for the captain who has defined Argentine football for more than two decades.

Lionel Messi scores in his final Argentina match

Argentina broke the deadlock shortly after half-time when Nicolás Otamendi headed home from a Messi delivery in the 48th minute. Messi then helped create the second goal, with Nico Paz extending Argentina’s lead in the 61st minute.

The final moment belonged to Messi. He converted a penalty in the 71st minute to make it 3-0, scoring his 126th international goal for Argentina in his last match for the country.

Messi finished the farewell with one goal and two assists, giving the Argentine supporters exactly the kind of performance they had hoped to see from their captain one final time.

Did Messi Retire

The atmosphere inside the Monumental was unlike a regular international friendly. The stadium was packed as fans gathered to celebrate Messi’s extraordinary career and witness his final appearance in an Argentina shirt on home soil.

Messi was visibly emotional before the match and during the national anthem. After the final whistle, he addressed the crowd from the centre of the pitch as teammates, coaches and supporters gave him a prolonged ovation.

The match was also paused in the 10th minute for a special round of applause, adding another emotional moment to an evening built around Messi’s farewell.

Messi leaves Argentina as its record goalscorer

Messi ends his Argentina career as the country’s most-capped player and leading international goalscorer. He finished with 208 appearances and 126 goals, along with 70 assists, according to reports following his final match.

His international career lasted 21 years and included the biggest trophies available to an Argentine player. He won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and another Copa América title, establishing himself as the central figure of Argentina’s most successful modern era.

The World Cup in Qatar was particularly important to Messi’s legacy. After years of criticism over his international record, he finally lifted football’s biggest trophy in 2022 and became the leader of a generation that restored Argentina to the top of world football.

Messi’s final World Cup chapter

Messi also played at the 2026 World Cup, extending his record appearances at the tournament and helping Argentina reach the final. His international career therefore ended after another deep World Cup run, even though Argentina ultimately fell short of another title.

He leaves the World Cup with several major records, including 34 appearances in the men’s tournament and 21 goals. He also became the first player to start three men’s World Cup finals, having done so in 2014, 2022 and 2026.

Argentina enters a new era without Messi

Messi’s departure marks a major change for Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina. The coach built a team capable of maximizing Messi’s attacking influence while allowing other players to cover the defensive work around him.

That partnership produced one of the most successful periods in Argentina’s football history, with the team winning major international trophies and developing a strong collective identity around its captain.

Now Argentina must begin preparing for life without the player who has been its attacking reference point for years. The farewell against Benin gave supporters one final chance to watch Messi lead the national team before that new chapter begins.

Messi’s Argentina career ends with a perfect farewell

The final scoreline reflected the occasion. Argentina won 3-0, Messi scored, provided two assists and walked away with another victory in the shirt he first wore more than two decades ago.

For Argentine supporters, the result was secondary to the opportunity to say goodbye. Messi’s final night at the Monumental brought together the records, trophies and memories of a 21-year international career in one emotional farewell.