‘The world thanks you’ – emotional Messi scores in final Argentina game

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lionel Messi ended his Argentina career with 125 goals in 208 appearances

Lionel Messi brought his glittering Argentina career to a fitting end with a goal against Benin on an emotional night in Buenos Aires.

The 39-year-old, playing his 208th and final international game, converted a second-half penalty to register his 126th Argentina goal.

He had earlier provided assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz in a comfortable 3-0 friendly win.

Messi, who announced his international retirement in August, played the full 90 minutes before the 85,000-strong sell-out crowd inside the Monumental were treated to a laser light show, live music and presentations.

He also addressed the crowd with a speech spanning nearly 10 minutes, with some of his team-mates – including Manchester City's Enzo Fernandez – in tears as Messi admitted he did not want to leave the field.

His career will continue at club level with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, with whom he has a contract that runs to the end of the 2028 season.

On a night of celebrations from start to finish in the Argentine capital, Messi was often seen to be visibly moved by the occasion.

The former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward was filmed wiping away tears on the coach journey to the ground and again appeared overcome by emotion during a rousing rendition of the country's national anthem.

Before kick-off a spectacular firework display greeted the players on to the pitch, while a giant Argentina shirt – bearing Messi's iconic number 10 and the word 'gracias' (thank you) – was sprawled across the field.

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Published31 AugustTen minutes into the game, play was then brought to a halt for yet more fireworks, another standing ovation for Messi and handshakes from every Benin player.

Once the fanfare subsided, Messi was typically at the heart of everything going forward for Argentina, seeing two free-kicks well saved, twice missing glorious chances from inside the six-yard box and then hitting the post in the closing stages.

When he made his announcement in August, Messi said the decision to retire "hurt" but that "the time has come".

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said he had written his retirement message on 21 July, two days after Argentina lost to Spain in this summer's World Cup final.

Messi made his debut for Argentina in 2005 as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 2-1 friendly win over Hungary. However, he was shown a straight red card less than a minute later, after he swung his arm and his elbow connected with full-back Vilmos Vanczak.

Despite his tough start on the international stage, Messi went on to become one of the all-time greats, winning the World Cup and two Copa America titles with Argentina.

He is the second-highest goalscorer in World Cup history, with 21, behind France's Kylian Mbappe (22), and second for goals in all internationals (125) behind his great contemporary and rival, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (146).

Image source, ReutersImage source, ReutersImage source, Getty ImagesImage source, Getty ImagesImage source, ReutersImage source, Getty Images1 of 6

Previous imageNext imageSlide 1 of 6, Argentina fans cheering on Lionel Messi, End of image gallery'I want to tell him that I love him'A number of Messi's current and former team-mates paid tribute to him on social media leading up to the game.

Neymar, who played with the Argentina forward at both Barcelona and PSG, said "it's not only Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you have done for football".

He added: "Thank you for making me love football even more. It was an honour for me to have played against you and even more so to make history alongside you."

Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's close friend a team-mate at both international and club level, said: "He made me grow not only as a footballer, but also as a person.

"I became a better person, a better human being, a better athlete, a better father and a better friend.

"I want to tell him that I love him. He knows that he is my brother and that he has an enormous heart."

Ex-Argentina team-mate Angel di Maria said: "Seeing him with so much happiness, and that tranquillity of knowing that he gave everything he had, is what makes us all happy.

Team Lineupshome team, ArgentinaManager: Lionel Scaloni

Number2323, Martínez, GoalkeeperMartínezNumber44, Giay, DefenderGiayNumber1313, Romero, DefenderRomeroNumber1919, Otamendi, DefenderOtamendiNumber33, Tagliafico, DefenderTagliaficoNumber77, De Paul, MidfielderDe PaulNumber2020, Mac Allister, MidfielderMac AllisterNumber88, Fernández, MidfielderFernándezNumber1010, Messi, StrikerMessiNumber2222, Lautaro Martínez, StrikerLautaro MartínezNumber99, Alvarez, StrikerAlvarezStarting lineupNumber2323, Martínez, GoalkeeperE. Martínez Number33, Tagliafico, DefenderN. Tagliafico F. Medina 52', substituted for F. Medina at 52 minutesNumber1919, Otamendi, DefenderN. Otamendi 44', Yellow Card at 44 minutesL. Martínez 52', substituted for L. Martínez at 52 minutesNumber1313, Romero, DefenderC. Romero F. Mastantuono 79', substituted for F. Mastantuono at 79 minutesNumber44, Giay, DefenderA. Giay Number88, Fernández, MidfielderE. Fernández E. Palacios 79', substituted for E. Palacios at 79 minutesNumber2020, Mac Allister, MidfielderA. Mac Allister G. Lo Celso 79', substituted for G. Lo Celso at 79 minutesNumber77, De Paul, MidfielderR. De Paul N. Paz 59', substituted for N. Paz at 59 minutesNumber99, Alvarez, StrikerJ. Alvarez N. González 60', substituted for N. González at 60 minutesNumber2222, Lautaro Martínez, StrikerL. Martínez L. Flores 78', substituted for L. Flores at 78 minutesNumber1010, Messi, StrikerL. Messi (c), CaptainSubstituteshome team, ArgentinaNumber22, Balerdi, SubstituteL. Balerdi Number2424, Barco, SubstituteV. Barco Number3131, Flores, SubstituteL. Flores Number1515, González, SubstituteN. González Number1111, Lo Celso, SubstituteG. Lo Celso Number2121, López, SubstituteJ. López Number66, Martínez, SubstituteL. Martínez Number3030, Mastantuono, SubstituteF. Mastantuono Number2525, Medina, SubstituteF. Medina Number11, Musso, SubstituteJ. Musso Number1414, Palacios, SubstituteE. Palacios Number1818, Paz, SubstituteN. Paz Number1616, Prestianni, SubstituteG. Prestianni Number1212, Rulli, SubstituteG. Rulli Number1717, Simeone, SubstituteG. Simeone away team, BeninManager: Gernot Rohr

Number11, Dandjinou, GoalkeeperDandjinouNumber22, Omore, DefenderOmoreNumber55, Roche, DefenderRocheNumber1313, Tijani, DefenderTijaniNumber33, Ouorou, DefenderOuorouNumber1515, D'Almeida, Defensive MidfielderD'AlmeidaNumber88, Hassane, Defensive MidfielderHassaneNumber1717, Aloko, Attacking MidfielderAlokoNumber1818, Olaïtan, Attacking MidfielderOlaïtanNumber1111, Ouorou, Attacking MidfielderOuorouNumber1010, Aiyegun Tosin, StrikerAiyegun TosinStarting lineupNumber11, Dandjinou, GoalkeeperM. Dandjinou S. Allagbé 76', substituted for S. Allagbé at 76 minutesNumber33, Ouorou, DefenderT. Ouorou C. Azongnitode 75', substituted for C. Azongnitode at 75 minutesNumber1313, Tijani, DefenderM. Tijani 55', Yellow Card at 55 minutesNumber55, Roche, DefenderY. Roche A. Amadou 91', substituted for A. Amadou at 91 minutesNumber22, Omore, DefenderL. Omore Number88, Hassane, Defensive MidfielderI. Hassane S. Attidjikou 91', substituted for S. Attidjikou at 91 minutesNumber1515, D'Almeida, Defensive MidfielderS. D'Almeida (c), CaptainNumber1111, Ouorou, Attacking MidfielderY. Ouorou J. Olougbade 64', substituted for J. Olougbade at 64 minutesNumber1818, Olaïtan, Attacking MidfielderJ. Olaïtan M. Ahlinvi 64', substituted for M. Ahlinvi at 64 minutesNumber1717, Aloko, Attacking MidfielderR. Aloko S. Ngobi 91', substituted for S. Ngobi at 91 minutesNumber1010, Aiyegun Tosin, StrikerO. Aiyegun J. Dossou 75', substituted for J. Dossou at 75 minutesaway team, BeninNumber1616, Allagbé, SubstituteS. Allagbé Number77, Ahlinvi, SubstituteM. Ahlinvi Number44, Amadou, SubstituteA. Amadou Number2222, Attidjikou, SubstituteS. Attidjikou Number1212, Azongnitode, SubstituteC. Azongnitode Number2020, Dossou, SubstituteJ. Dossou Number66, Ngobi, SubstituteS. Ngobi Number2323, Obassa, SubstituteS. Obassa Number2121, Oloko, SubstituteJ. Oloko Number1919, Olougbade, SubstituteJ. Olougbade Number1414, Tessilimi, SubstituteO. Tessilimi Argentina (active)Beninhome team, ArgentinaManager: Lionel Scaloni

Number2323, Martínez, GoalkeeperMartínezNumber44, Giay, DefenderGiayNumber1313, Romero, DefenderRomeroNumber1919, Otamendi, DefenderOtamendiNumber33, Tagliafico, DefenderTagliaficoNumber77, De Paul, MidfielderDe PaulNumber2020, Mac Allister, MidfielderMac AllisterNumber88, Fernández, MidfielderFernándezNumber1010, Messi, StrikerMessiNumber2222, Lautaro Martínez, StrikerLautaro MartínezNumber99, Alvarez, StrikerAlvarezStarting lineupNumber2323, Martínez, GoalkeeperE. Martínez Number33, Tagliafico, DefenderN. Tagliafico F. Medina 52', substituted for F. Medina at 52 minutesNumber1919, Otamendi, DefenderN. Otamendi 44', Yellow Card at 44 minutesL. Martínez 52', substituted for L. Martínez at 52 minutesNumber1313, Romero, DefenderC. Romero F. Mastantuono 79', substituted for F. Mastantuono at 79 minutesNumber44, Giay, DefenderA. Giay Number88, Fernández, MidfielderE. Fernández E. Palacios 79', substituted for E. Palacios at 79 minutesNumber2020, Mac Allister, MidfielderA. Mac Allister G. Lo Celso 79', substituted for G. Lo Celso at 79 minutesNumber77, De Paul, MidfielderR. De Paul N. Paz 59', substituted for N. Paz at 59 minutesNumber99, Alvarez, StrikerJ. Alvarez N. González 60', substituted for N. González at 60 minutesNumber2222, Lautaro Martínez, StrikerL. Martínez L. Flores 78', substituted for L. Flores at 78 minutesNumber1010, Messi, StrikerL. Messi (c), CaptainSubstitutesNumber22, Balerdi, SubstituteL. Balerdi Number2424, Barco, SubstituteV. Barco Number3131, Flores, SubstituteL. Flores Number1515, González, SubstituteN. González Number1111, Lo Celso, SubstituteG. Lo Celso Number2121, López, SubstituteJ. López Number66, Martínez, SubstituteL. Martínez Number3030, Mastantuono, SubstituteF. Mastantuono Number2525, Medina, SubstituteF. Medina Number11, Musso, SubstituteJ. Musso Number1414, Palacios, SubstituteE. Palacios Number1818, Paz, SubstituteN. Paz Number1616, Prestianni, SubstituteG. Prestianni Number1212, Rulli, SubstituteG. Rulli Number1717, Simeone, SubstituteG. Simeone away team, BeninManager: Gernot Rohr

Number11, Dandjinou, GoalkeeperDandjinouNumber22, Omore, DefenderOmoreNumber55, Roche, DefenderRocheNumber1313, Tijani, DefenderTijaniNumber33, Ouorou, DefenderOuorouNumber1515, D'Almeida, Defensive MidfielderD'AlmeidaNumber88, Hassane, Defensive MidfielderHassaneNumber1717, Aloko, Attacking MidfielderAlokoNumber1818, Olaïtan, Attacking MidfielderOlaïtanNumber1111, Ouorou, Attacking MidfielderOuorouNumber1010, Aiyegun Tosin, StrikerAiyegun TosinStarting lineupNumber11, Dandjinou, GoalkeeperM. Dandjinou S. Allagbé 76', substituted for S. Allagbé at 76 minutesNumber33, Ouorou, DefenderT. Ouorou C. Azongnitode 75', substituted for C. Azongnitode at 75 minutesNumber1313, Tijani, DefenderM. Tijani 55', Yellow Card at 55 minutesNumber55, Roche, DefenderY. Roche A. Amadou 91', substituted for A. Amadou at 91 minutesNumber22, Omore, DefenderL. Omore Number88, Hassane, Defensive MidfielderI. Hassane S. Attidjikou 91', substituted for S. Attidjikou at 91 minutesNumber1515, D'Almeida, Defensive MidfielderS. D'Almeida (c), CaptainNumber1111, Ouorou, Attacking MidfielderY. Ouorou J. Olougbade 64', substituted for J. Olougbade at 64 minutesNumber1818, Olaïtan, Attacking MidfielderJ. Olaïtan M. Ahlinvi 64', substituted for M. Ahlinvi at 64 minutesNumber1717, Aloko, Attacking MidfielderR. Aloko S. Ngobi 91', substituted for S. Ngobi at 91 minutesNumber1010, Aiyegun Tosin, StrikerO. Aiyegun J. Dossou 75', substituted for J. Dossou at 75 minutesSubstitutesNumber1616, Allagbé, SubstituteS. Allagbé Number77, Ahlinvi, SubstituteM. Ahlinvi Number44, Amadou, SubstituteA. Amadou Number2222, Attidjikou, SubstituteS. Attidjikou Number1212, Azongnitode, SubstituteC. Azongnitode Number2020, Dossou, SubstituteJ. Dossou Number66, Ngobi, SubstituteS. Ngobi Number2323, Obassa, SubstituteS. Obassa Number2121, Oloko, SubstituteJ. Oloko Number1919, Olougbade, SubstituteJ. Olougbade Number1414, Tessilimi, SubstituteO. Tessilimi Close ModalMatch OfficialsReferee: Fernando VéjarAssistant Referee 1: Wladimir MuñozAssistant Referee 2: Carlos VenegasFourth Official: José CaberoMatch StatsKey, Argentina v BeninArgentinaKeyBeninBasic StatsOverall possessionARG65.2�N34.8%Argentina 65.2�nin 34.8%ShotsArgentina 19Benin 719Shots7Shots on targetArgentina 12Benin 212Shots on target2Total touches inside the opposition boxArgentina 42Benin 9ARG429BENGoalkeeper savesArgentina 2Benin 82Goalkeeper saves8Aerial duels wonArgentina 6Benin 36Aerial duels won3Fouls committedArgentina 11Benin 1411Fouls committed14CornersArgentina 8Benin 28Corners2In-depth match statsAttackShotsArgentina 19Benin 719Shots7Shots on targetArgentina 12Benin 212Shots on target2Shots off targetArgentina 6Benin 36Shots off target3Attempts out of boxArgentina 5Benin 25Attempts out of box2Hit woodworkArgentina 1Benin 01Hit woodwork0One-on-one attemptsArgentina 1Benin 01One-on-one attempts0Total offsidesArgentina 6Benin 06Total offsides0DistributionTotal passesArgentina 666Benin 356666Total passes356Pass accuracy %Argentina 91.1Benin 79.291.1Pass accuracy y.2Backward passesArgentina 108Benin 67108Backward passes67Forward passesArgentina 181Benin 110181Forward passes110Total long ballsArgentina 30Benin 3930Total long balls39Successful final third passesArgentina 178Benin 16178Successful final third passes16Total crossesArgentina 16Benin 516Total crosses5DefenceTotal tacklesArgentina 14Benin 1514Total tackles15Won tackle %Argentina 64.3Benin 6064.3Won tackle `Fouls committedArgentina 11Benin 1411Fouls committed14Total yellow cardsArgentina 1Benin 11Total yellow cards1Total clearancesArgentina 4Benin 174Total clearances17Clearances off the lineArgentina 0Benin 10Clearances off the line1Head to HeadSeason so farFriendlies

Please note: All times are UK. Some content is provided by third parties, is subject to change, and is unverified.Live TextMatch ends, Argentina 3, Benin 0.

Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Leonel Flores (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution, Benin. Amiro Amadou replaces Yohan Roche.

Substitution, Benin. Sahid Ngobi replaces Rodolfo Aloko.

Substitution, Benin. Samadou Attidjikou replaces Imourane Hassane.

Offside, Argentina. Lionel Messi is caught offside.

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.

Franco Mastantuono (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Saturnin Allagbé.

Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Saturnin Allagbé (Benin). Assisted by Giovani Lo Celso.

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Saturnin Allagbé.

Attempt saved. Leonel Flores (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Saturnin Allagbé (Benin). Assisted by Lionel Messi with a through ball.

Offside, Argentina. Lionel Messi is caught offside.