Hours before Argentina faced Benin at the Monumental Stadium on Tuesday, thousands of supporters gathered around the venue to celebrate the final international appearance of a player who has been at the centre of the country’s football story for more than two decades.
Inside the stadium, a giant Argentina shirt bearing Messi’s famous No. 10 and the word “Gracias” was displayed on the pitch as more than 85,000 supporters waited to see their captain one final time in the national colours.
Messi entered the field alongside his three children before the match. He was visibly emotional during the national anthem, while Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was also seen in tears.
Then came a moment that turned the match into a tribute.
In the 10th minute — a nod to Messi’s iconic shirt number — the referee stopped play. The entire Monumental rose to applaud Argentina’s No. 10 as fans chanted his name and fireworks filled the stadium. Players from Benin also joined the celebration.
Even with the occasion dominated by emotion, Messi still produced one final performance.
He assisted Nicolás Otamendi for Argentina’s opening goal and later set up Nico Paz for the second. In the 71st minute, Messi stepped up to take a penalty and sent the ball into the net for Argentina’s third goal.
The goal became his 126th for Argentina, while the match was his 208th appearance, extending his records as the country’s leading scorer and most-capped player.
One of the night’s touching gestures came from the opposition.
Before kick-off, Benin captain Sessi D’Almeida presented Messi with a gift and a letter in recognition of his career. It was a small gesture that captured the significance of the night beyond Argentina.
When the final whistle arrived, Argentina had won 3–0, but the score almost felt secondary.
Messi was surrounded by teammates, opponents and the referee before turning toward the stands. Above the stadium, a drone display lit up the night sky as supporters continued to celebrate the player who had given Argentina some of its most memorable football moments.
Messi then addressed the crowd, acknowledging the supporters who had followed him throughout his international career.
“I love all of you, and I will miss all of you. I am proud to be Argentine,” he told the crowd, according to ABC News.
After 21 years, 208 appearances and 126 goals for Argentina, Messi’s international story has reached its final chapter.
He leaves behind a legacy that includes the 2022 World Cup, two Copa América titles and the 2022 Finalissima, while remaining Argentina’s most-capped player and record goalscorer.
And on a night when the football almost became secondary to the farewell, Argentina did not simply say goodbye to its captain.
It said, “Gracias, Leo.”
