A perfect final performance at a sold-out Monumental
Lionel Messi turned his official farewell to the Argentina national team into exactly the kind of performance his two decades with the Albiceleste trained fans to expect: a penalty goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin on Tuesday, October 6, at a packed Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The crowd gave him a deafening final ovation at the end of the match — a fitting send-off for the player who, more than anyone else, defined the country's footballing identity for a generation.
The scoring started early. Following a Messi corner kick, defender Nicolás Otamendi headed Argentina into the lead in the 48th minute, and ten minutes into the match, play was paused entirely so the stadium could formally honor its captain, who simply raised his hand in acknowledgment before getting back to work.
The goal that capped it off
Messi's own contribution to the scoreline came in the 71st minute, when he calmly converted a penalty to make it 3-0 — the final goal of the match, and about as poetic a way as possible to close out his international scoring account. Along with the penalty, he set up two of Argentina's other goals, giving him a direct hand in the entire scoreline on the night. At 39, in what amounted to a ceremonial send-off match, he still played like the best player on the pitch.
A sold-out crowd had been heavily anticipating exactly this kind of moment, and Messi delivered it with the same matter-of-fact composure that's defined his penalty-taking for years.
A farewell that almost didn't happen
This wasn't originally supposed to be Messi's last match. Many assumed his Argentina career had already ended when the team lost to Spain in the final of the 2025 World Cup that July. But the Argentine Football Association reportedly convinced him to make one more appearance, specifically to give him "the farewell he deserves," according to ESPN — turning what could have been an anticlimactic exit into a properly staged celebration.
That effort showed in how the occasion was organized. Players from Argentina's 1978, 1986, and 2022 World Cup-winning squads, along with their families, joined the tribute, connecting Messi's farewell to the full sweep of Argentine football history rather than treating it as just his own individual moment.
From a tearful 2005 debut to a World Cup, finally
Messi made his senior Argentina debut in 2005, stepping into a lineage that inevitably drew comparisons to Diego Maradona from his earliest appearances. For years, that comparison came with frustration attached — his international career included painful final losses and, at one lower point in 2016, a public statement that he was quitting the national team altogether after Argentina's third consecutive final defeat.
He came back, of course, and the story eventually bent toward vindication: Argentina finally won the World Cup in 2022, a triumph that secured Messi's place among the sport's greatest players and cemented his status as a genuine national hero rather than merely a brilliant player who couldn't quite finish the job for his country.
What he said when it was over
After the match, Messi thanked his teammates for the titles they'd won together and left them with a pointed message about the road ahead: "We need to build a strong, united group because there are people who want the national team to fail, and we shouldn't give them the satisfaction." He also promised to stay connected to the team in a different capacity going forward — "Now I'll be on your side, supporting the national team and the guys who come next."
The night closed with a drone display spelling out Messi's jersey number over the stadium, a visual send-off to match the performance that preceded it. Off the pitch, an academic institution also presented him with an honorary doctorate at the national team's Ezeiza training complex, recognizing both his performance on the field and his broader influence on the sport and the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Messi do in his Argentina farewell match?
He scored a penalty and provided two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin on October 6, 2026, at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Was this actually Messi's last match for Argentina?
Yes, this was billed as his official farewell match. Many had assumed his international career ended after Argentina lost the 2025 World Cup final to Spain, but the Argentine Football Association organized this additional match specifically as a send-off.
When did Messi make his Argentina debut?
He debuted for the senior national team in 2005, going on to become Argentina's all-time leading scorer and win the World Cup with the team in 2022.
What did Messi say after his final match?
He thanked his teammates, urged them to stay united against those who want the national team to fail, and said he would continue supporting Argentina and its future players from the sidelines going forward.
Who scored Argentina's other goals against Benin?
Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring in the 48th minute with a header from a Messi corner kick, with Messi assisting on a second goal before scoring the third himself from the penalty spot.
