Buenos Aires gave Lionel Messi a final international night at El Monumental, where the 39-year-old brought his Argentina playing career to a close against Benin on Tuesday.
It was a farewell shaped by the weight of two decades in the national shirt. Messi, still producing decisive performances whenever he takes the field at club level, has chosen himself when to end his time with the world champions.
Quick facts
- Messi played his last match for Argentina on Tuesday.
- The farewell took place at El Monumental in Buenos Aires against Benin.
- He had represented Argentina for more than 20 years.
- Adidas released previously unseen footage from his final moments in the national-team jersey.
- Messi described wearing and defending Argentina’s shirt as an enormous honour.
The images released after the match capture a reflective Messi looking back at the journey from his early years to an era that included defeat, triumph and the ultimate prize with Argentina.
Asked what he would say to the child who first dreamed of football, Messi said: “Enjoy it. Enjoy things more. In fact, I do not know if I am even aware yet of everything I achieved in football.”
For Messi, every call-up carried a significance beyond the result. He said he had always relished returning to Argentina duty, even as the moment to step away proved difficult.
“I enjoyed coming here,” he said. “I did it for more than 20 years and it is not easy to leave. Thank you, Argentina, for sharing all these years with me.”
He added that representing the country had been a source of immense pride. “I lost and I won, but wearing this shirt was above everything else. I always tried to defend it with all my heart.”
The Buenos Aires farewell closes an Argentina chapter that outlasted generations and ended with Messi leaving on his own terms, rather than being pushed aside by the game he has continued to illuminate.
