Buenos Aires gave Lionel Messi a final night in Argentina colours at the Monumental, where the captain said goodbye after the friendly against Benin with tears, thanks and an insistence that representing his country had been the greatest privilege of his career.
The 10 was emotional from his arrival in Núñez. He was filmed crying outside the stadium, wept again during the national anthem, and received a full-stadium ovation in the 10th minute.
Quick facts
- Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and played his first World Cup in Germany a year later.
- His farewell came at the Monumental in Buenos Aires in a friendly against Benin.
- He won the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 World Cup and the Finalissima with Argentina.
- Argentina finished runners-up at the 2026 World Cup.
- Supporters answered his references to Qatar 2022 with chants of “Champions, champions”.
“It is hard to put into words,” Messi said. “There are so many emotions and so many things going through my mind. The first person I think of is my father. I can only be thankful.”
He said he had always fought to remain available for Argentina, including through difficult periods, but felt the time had come to step away. “I swear I would have liked to stay here forever, because playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing that can happen.”
Messi framed Qatar 2022 as the summit he had wanted to reach: the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition to make Argentina world champions again. The 2026 final ended differently, despite a run in which he said the squad had given everything for the shirt.
He described the match against England during that tournament as particularly draining, physically and emotionally. Argentina had come close to another world title, he said, but had fallen short after a campaign in which the group continued to compete in its usual way.
The Monumental responded when Messi mentioned the 2022 triumph, singing for the world champions as he stood before the crowd. He also directed a lengthy tribute towards the teammates who had accompanied him through the changing fortunes of his international career.
“They allowed me to achieve the dream I had as a boy,” he said. “To become a world champion, a Copa América champion, a Finalissima champion — champions of everything we played for.”
Messi said he had known he could rely on “warriors” beside him on the field and called the journey a source of pride both inside football and beyond it. He admitted the farewell had left him struggling to say everything he had prepared.
He recalled playing across Argentina and receiving affection in every corner of the country. Among his strongest memories at the Monumental was the first home game after Argentina returned from winning the World Cup, a day he called one of the happiest of his playing life.
“Tonight moves me deeply,” Messi said. “It will stay in the history of all of us and of my family. It has been spectacular.”
He told supporters he would now follow the national side from outside the pitch and back the younger players, while asking the group to remain united. Still reluctant to leave the field, he ended with a declaration of affection for the crowd and pride in being Argentine.
The farewell closed a national-team story that began in 2005 and carried long stretches of frustration before its golden finish. Messi played at the 2006 World Cup, then endured runners-up finishes at the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América tournaments.
After the 2016 Copa América defeat, his third consecutive final loss, he announced his retirement from international football. The reaction from Argentina’s supporters and players helped persuade him to return.
Another setback followed with Argentina’s last-16 exit at Russia 2018. Under Lionel Scaloni, however, the direction changed: Messi’s first senior international title arrived when Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the 2021 Copa América final at the Maracanã.
That breakthrough led to the World Cup in Qatar, another Copa América in 2024, and finally the emotional send-off in Buenos Aires after Argentina’s 2026 World Cup runner-up finish.
