Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career with Argentina on a high, scoring once and providing two assists as the world champions defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old captain was involved in all three goals as more than 85,000 fans gathered to witness his final appearance for the national team.
Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring in the 48th minute, heading home after Messi delivered the assist from a corner.
Messi then set up Nico Paz for Argentina’s second goal in the 61st minute before converting a penalty 10 minutes later to complete the victory.
The match brought the curtain down on one of the most decorated international careers in football history.
Messi leaves the Argentina national team as the country’s most-capped player, with 208 appearances, and its leading goalscorer with 126 goals.
“It’s hard to talk,” Messi said after the match, reflecting on the emotions surrounding his farewell.
“There are a lot of emotions, a lot of things going through my head,” he added.
The forward said representing Argentina for more than two decades had been a major source of pride.
“It was a huge source of pride for me to wear this shirt all this time, more than 20 years,” he said.
“Playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.”
The farewell also had a Nigerian connection, with former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr leading Benin against Argentina.
Rohr had previously faced Messi as Nigeria coach at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, when the Super Eagles met Argentina in the group stage.
Ahead of Tuesday’s match, Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou insisted his team would approach the encounter competitively despite the focus on Messi’s farewell.
“This is football: eleven against eleven,” Dandjinou told Marca.
“We are not here to do tourism in Argentina, we are here to play and compete,” he added.
Dandjinou also dismissed suggestions that Benin would allow Messi to score, saying his responsibility as a goalkeeper was to stop every attempt, including any penalty Messi might take.
Benin defender Mohamed Tijani, meanwhile, said the team would not adopt a special marking system for Messi.
“We won’t be marking Messi. We’ll just enjoy this match,” he told C5N, according to Goal.com.
Rohr described the occasion as a major honour for Benin and himself.
“Yes, it’s a big honor for us and also for me like a coach to play this last game of Leo Messi in his national team,” he told Footy-Africa.
Messi’s farewell appearance had been announced as his final match for Argentina, with FIFA previously quoting Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia as saying the captain deserved a farewell in his home country.
Messi ends his international career with 208 appearances and 126 goals, as well as Argentina’s major international honours, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and two Copa América titles.
