Messi bids farewell to the national team: goal and assist in his last match with Argentina

Lionel Messi played his final match wearing the Argentine national team jersey, ending in triumph at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in an emotionally charged night friendly, with the crowd giving a lengthy farewell to their champion.

Messi delivered an excellent personal performance, providing two assists: the first for Nicolás Otamendi who headed in at the 48th minute, the second for Nico Paz who scored a curling left-footed goal at the 61st. The captain then sealed the celebration by scoring from a penalty at the 71st, completing the final score. The match was preceded by an extensive pre-game show dedicated to the farewell of the number 10.

Lionel Messi, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, has announced his retirement from the Argentine national team after a long and highly successful career. The player, currently with Miami MLS, made his debut with the Albiceleste in 2005 and amassed 180 appearances, winning the Copa América in 2021 and, most importantly, the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar, fulfilling his greatest dream.

The decision to play one final farewell match was made to officially bid farewell to the Argentine fans, who had not been able to properly celebrate his retirement after the World Cup victory. The match against Benin, an African national team coached by Gernot Rohr, was specifically organized as a celebratory event. The choice of Benin as the opponent is symbolic, as Rohr had already faced Messi twice while coaching Nigeria, with a record of one win and one loss.

This farewell marks the end of an era for Argentine and world football, making way for a new generation of talents like Nico Paz of Como, who scored one of the goals of the evening. Messi leaves the national team as the player with the most appearances and goals in Argentina's history.