Lionel Messi marked his 208th and final appearance for Argentina with a goal and two assists in a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin. The sold-out crowd at Estadio Monumental bid emotional farewell to the global icon after 21 years. Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 71st minute and provided the assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz.
Before kickoff, Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni were seen in tears during the national anthem. The match featured a stadium-wide tribute, with Benin players shaking Messi's hand. Messi announced his retirement after the 2022 World Cup loss to Spain, though the AFA persuaded him to play for "the farewell he deserves." Over 85,000 tickets sold out quickly, with resale prices exceeding $2,500.
Legends from 1978, 1986, and 2022 World Cup squads attended the emotional ceremony. Messi finishes as Argentina's all-time leading scorer and appearance holder. He is continuing his club career with Inter Miami, recently winning the Campeones Cup.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing