Messi Bids Tearful Farewell With Goal in 3-0 Win
Story By Staff Reporter
Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career on Tuesday. He said farewell to adoring Argentina fans in Buenos Aires. It was an emotional last appearance for the former world champions.
The 39-year-old is widely considered the greatest player in football history. He scored his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 supporters. Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Benin.
Messi played his record 208th international. He also set up the opening goal for veteran Nicolás Otamendi. Nico Paz added the third.
A Night Built for Messi
The result mattered less than the occasion. Fans had called the event The Last Tango. Messi soaked up the love of the Monumental Stadium crowd one final time.
Earlier, he wiped away tears on the team bus. It crawled through crowds of well-wishers on the way to the stadium.
Messi walked onto the pitch with his three children. His wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, waved warmly from a VIP box.
Just before kick-off, staff spread a giant Argentina shirt across the pitch. It read “Gracias” (Thank You) above his No 10. The crowd roared.
Messi welled up again during the national anthem. Falklands War veteran Fabio Santana sang beside a banner reading “The Malvinas are Argentine.” Players raised the same banner after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England.
Ovation and Penalty
Play stopped in the 10th minute, a nod to his famous shirt number. The crowd gave the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star a minute-long ovation.
Messi capped the night with a penalty in the 71st minute. After the final whistle, a drone show lit up the sky above the stadium. It displayed his image and thanked the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner for his career.
“I Gave It My All”
The farewell came two and a half months after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain in New Jersey. Messi left the field in tears after a quiet display in a bad-tempered 1-0 defeat. “I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance,” he wrote at the time.
Before Tuesday’s game, the University of Buenos Aires gave Messi an honorary doctorate. The ceremony took place at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) headquarters. Messi has said before that he regrets not studying more. He said he felt proud and joked, “To be able to say that I am an honorary doctor!”
Outside the AFA building, supporters unrolled a huge Argentine flag. It carried his image and the words “The joy of my life.”
Tributes From Around the World
Former Barcelona teammate Neymar paid tribute on X. “It’s not just Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you did for football. Thank you for making me love football even more,” he wrote.
Fan Cecilia Adriano, 52, told AFP she has no complaints. “I believe Messi gave everything, absolutely everything, so it doesn’t bother me at all that he’s leaving. He has more than earned it, let him enjoy himself, let him rest,” she said.
What Comes Next
Messi has a contract with Inter Miami until 2028. His father, Jorge, died two months ago. Since then, Messi has said he may retire for good sooner than expected.
His international exit comes four years after his greatest triumph. He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and ended a 36-year wait for a third title. That win cemented his status as Diego Maradona’s heir.
With the Albiceleste, Messi won one World Cup. Argentina finished runners-up twice, in Brazil 2014 and North America 2026. They also won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
Reporting based on original coverage by The Guardian.
