Argentina's Lionel Messi played his final match for the national team on Tuesday, October 5, 2026, at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. The match against Benin ended in a 3-0 victory for Argentina. Over 85,000 supporters filled the stadium to bid farewell to the player who leaves as Argentina's record appearance holder and all-time leading scorer.
The emotional farewell began before Messi reached the pitch, with thousands of supporters lining the route of the Argentina team bus. Cameras captured the 39-year-old wiping away tears. Inside the stadium, a giant No. 10 Argentina shirt carrying the word "Gracias" was part of the tribute. Messi then walked onto the field alongside his three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
The national anthem proved too much for both Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni, as Messi struggled to contain his emotions while the Monumental sang around him. Ten minutes into the match, play stopped for an ovation dedicated to the number he made inseparable from his name.
Argentina had to wait until after halftime for the goals, with Messi playing a role in all three. His first assist found Nicolas Otamendi, who was also making his final appearance for Argentina after sharing the national team with Messi for 17 years. Messi later created the second for Nico Paz, one of the younger players expected to take on greater responsibility in Argentina's next chapter.
Messi converted a penalty for Argentina's third goal, taking his international tally to 126. The familiar chants of "Messi, Messi" rolled around the Monumental once more. There was something fitting about the sequence, as Messi helped one longtime teammate leave with a goal, helped a younger player score another, then took the final one himself.
After the whistle, players from Argentina and Benin gathered around him before the celebrations continued with lights, fireworks, music, and a drone display above the stadium. Argentina's football federation said the evening concluded with performances from Soledad Pastorutti and Ulises Bueno before Messi addressed the crowd.
"Not coming anymore is going to hurt a lot," Messi told the stadium after the match. He also pondered the years when success with Argentina seemed permanently out of reach. According to the AFA, Messi told supporters that even during the most difficult periods, he never stopped fighting for the national team. He described representing Argentina as "the most beautiful thing that can happen to you."
Key points
- Lionel Messi ended his international career with 208 appearances, 126 goals, and 70 assists for Argentina.
- Messi's final match for Argentina was played at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, with over 85,000 supporters in attendance.
- Messi's relationship with Argentina was not always straightforward, with criticism in the past for not reproducing his Barcelona success with the national team.
