Lionel Messi has described his retirement from international football as the “saddest day” of his career after making his final appearance for Argentina in a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The 39-year-old captain received an emotional farewell from more than 85,000 supporters after bringing his remarkable 21-year international career to an end. Messi scored Argentina’s third goal from the penalty spot and also provided two assists, finishing his international career with 208 appearances and 126 goals.Speaking to the crowd after the match, Messi admitted that saying goodbye to the national team would be deeply painful despite knowing that the time had come. He reflected on the pride he felt representing Argentina for more than two decades and thanked the supporters and teammates who remained with him throughout the difficult and successful periods of his career. Messi also recalled the emotional demands of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign, saying the tournament had taken a significant physical and emotional toll on him.Messi leaves the Argentina national team as its most-capped player and record goalscorer, having helped the country win the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and another Copa América title. Although his international career is over, he will continue playing club football with Inter Miami. His farewell against Benin marked the closing chapter of one of the most celebrated careers in international football, with Argentina fans giving their captain an emotional send-off befitting his contribution to the national team.
