Argentina’s colours had carried Lionel Messi for 7,720 days, from a fraught debut on 17 August 2005 to an emotional final evening against Benin. His first senior appearance ended in tears after a red card; his last brought more tears, but also a familiar display of control and invention as Argentina won 3-0.
The 10 closed his international career with a goal and two assists, delivering the decisive moments after Benin had kept the world champions scoreless through a difficult first half. Messi himself missed two opportunities before the interval, while Benin’s resistance gave the occasion an unexpectedly tense edge and the Argentina support continued to sing for its captain.
Three minutes after the restart, Messi’s corner created the breakthrough. Nicolás Otamendi arrived near the six-yard box and struck a volley to make it 1-0 in the 48th minute. Ten minutes later, Messi supplied Nicolás Paz, who had come on as a substitute, and the midfielder produced a finish of the quality usually associated with the departing captain.
Messi completed the scoreline from the penalty spot, sending his effort into the corner after Argentina were awarded a clear penalty. It was the 27th Argentina match in which he had both scored and assisted, a final statistical illustration of a player who leaves as the team’s leading scorer and leading creator.
A final record in Argentina colours
Messi’s Argentina story ends after 208 appearances, 126 goals and 70 assists. He departs holding the national records for caps, goals and assists, having also led the side to its third World Cup triumph.
There was a very different mood around the forward a decade ago, when he considered stepping away after losing a fourth successive final. Instead, his later years with the national team transformed his relationship with Argentina and added the major international honours that had once seemed elusive.
Across that closing chapter, Messi took Argentina to three World Cup finals and won one of them. He also lifted the Copa América twice and claimed the Finalissima. The Benin match now stands as the final page: a 3-0 victory, two assists, one goal, and a farewell in which Rosario’s most celebrated footballer once again decided the game.
