Lionel Messi played his last international match for Argentina, a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires, marking his retirement from the national team. Messi is widely regarded as the greatest football player in history.<\/p>\n
Messi provided the assist for the opening goal scored by Nicolas Otamendi. The event had been billed as ‘The Last Tango’. Messi wiped away tears as the bus carrying him and his team-mates made its way through crowds of wellwishers en route to the stadium.<\/p>\n
Messi took the field alongside his three children. A giant Argentina jersey bearing the word ‘Gracias’ above Messi’s No.10 was laid out on the pitch before kick off.<\/p>\n
Messi welled up again as Falklands War veteran Fabio Santana sang the national anthem beside a banner reading ‘The Malvinas are Argentine’. The same banner was held aloft by players after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England. The match was halted in the 10th minute in tribute to Messi’s famous shirt number for a minute-long ovation.<\/p>\n
At the final whistle a drone show lit up the night sky above the stadium, showing Messi’s image and thanking him for his career. Messi exited in tears after making little impression in the World Cup final loss to Spain in New Jersey.<\/p>\n
Before Tuesday’s game, the University of Buenos Aires awarded Messi an honorary doctorate in a ceremony at the Argentine Football Association headquarters. Messi has in the past spoken of his regret at not studying more. Outside the Argentina Football Association headquarters, fans unfurled a huge Argentine flag with his image inscribed ‘The joy of my life.’.<\/p>\n
Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028. Following the death of his father, Jorge, Messi revealed he may hang up his boots for good sooner than anticipated.<\/p>\n
Messi led Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup, ending the country’s 36-year wait for a third title. Messi’s 2022 World Cup win cemented his status as Diego Maradona’s heir. During his time with the Albiceleste, Argentina won one World Cup, were runners-up twice (Brazil 2014 and North America 2026), and were crowned Copa America champions in 2021 and 2024.<\/p>\n
Messi’s international career length: 21-year. Messi’s goal tally for Argentina: 126th international goal.<\/p>\n
attendance at the match: 85,000 supporters. Messi’s age: 39-year-old. Messi’s record-extending number of international caps: 208th international.<\/p>\n
final score of Argentina versus Benin: 3-0. minute match was halted for ovation to Messi: 10th minute.<\/p>\n
minute Messi scored penalty goal: 71st minute. number of Ballon d’Or awards Messi has won: eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. time since Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain: two and a half months.<\/p>\n
score of World Cup final loss to Spain: 1-0. year Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs until: 2028.<\/p>\n
time since the death of Messi’s father Jorge: two months ago. time since Messi’s 2022 World Cup triumph: four years. year of World Cup victory: 2022.<\/p>\n
Argentina’s wait for a third World Cup title: 36-year. year of Copa America championship: 2021.<\/p>\n
year of Copa America championship: 2024. year Argentina were runners-up at World Cup (Brazil): 2014. year Argentina were runners-up at World Cup (North America): 2026.<\/p>\n
Cecilia Adriano’s age: 52. Messi said: “It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this jersey for more than 20 years”.<\/p>\n
Messi said: “Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful. I swear I’d like to play for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.”. Messi said: “Even though I want to be here all my life, I feel that this is the moment. The last World Cup was too much, everything I had to live through”. Messi said: “I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance”.<\/p>\n
Messi said: “To be able to say that I am an honorary doctor!”. Neymar, former Barcelona team-mate, said: “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”.<\/p>\n
Cecilia Adriano said: “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”.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lionel Messi played his last international match for Argentina, a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires, marking his retirement from the national team. Messi is widely regarded as the greatest football player in history. Messi provided the assist for the opening goal scored by Nicolas Otamendi. The event had been billed as ‘The Last Tango’. Messi wiped away tears as the bus carrying him and his team-mates made its way through crowds of wellwishers en route to the stadium. Messi took the field alongside his three children. A giant Argentina jersey bearing the word ‘Gracias’ above Messi’s No.10 was<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60538,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n