Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina on 7 October, a friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, bringing down the curtain on an international career that stretched more than 21 years. After the game, Messi said that wearing the Argentina shirt for more than 20 years had been a source of pride, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
Fans lined the streets outside the stadium to greet the team bus, and Messi was seen wiping away tears on board. A helicopter flew over the ground trailing a giant replica of his Argentina shirt before kick-off.
Former clubs add their voices
Barcelona posted a tribute on social media, recalling Messi's gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and describing his journey with the national team as one that created history at every step. The club addressed him directly, congratulating him and urging him to keep making the Argentina shirt more recognisable.
Paris Saint-Germain, where Messi played from 2021 to 2023, also posted a message. The club wrote that an unforgettable chapter shared with Argentina was coming to an end, and told him to enjoy every moment of it.
Neymar's personal message
According to Foot Mercato, Neymar published a tribute in the hours before the match. He and Messi were teammates at Barcelona from 2013 to 2017 and again at Paris Saint-Germain from 2021 to 2023.
Neymar wrote that everyone who loves football had been able to enjoy Messi's talent over the years. He added that the tributes arriving that day came not only from Argentina but from the whole world, and closed by thanking Messi for making him love football even more, saying it had been an honour to play alongside him and write history together.
Argentina's poetic send-off
The Argentina national team posted a poem on social media earlier in the day to mark the occasion. The verse spoke of crossing deserts and overcoming obstacles, of carrying the scars of many battles, and of wanting to sing until the very last moment.
The poem closed with the line: for one more night like this, I would give everything. Messi also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires as part of the farewell celebrations.
