Lionel Messi wrapped up his international career with Argentina on Tuesday, delivering a truly unforgettable farewell performance that saw him contribute to all three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 friendly win over Benin in Buenos Aires. It wasn’t just a game, it was an emotional send-off, a final chance for an entire nation to celebrate their hero on the pitch one last time.
An Emotional Sendoff Before the Whistle Even Blew
The party for Messi started way before kick-off, man. Up in Rosario, about 185 miles from Buenos Aires, there was a helicopter literally towing a massive replica of his iconic No. 10 Argentina jersey around the city. How wild is that? But even with all the celebration, the raw emotion was real. Cameras caught Messi in tears right there on the team bus as it pulled up to Estadio Monumental, riding with his teammates for the last time before an international game. Once inside, the stadium was just electric with emotion, Messi and the crowd, all choked up as the national anthem played. And when that song finished? BOOM! Fireworks lit up the field around another giant Messi jersey replica at midfield. They even stopped play at the 10-minute mark for more fireworks, a standing ovation, and even the Benin players themselves paying their respects directly to the legend. You just don’t see that every day, do you?
From Denials to Dominance: Messi’s Final On-Field Show
The fans didn’t just come to watch a pre-game show and a 10-minute tribute, though. They wanted to see the man play, and Messi delivered! He fired an on-target free kick in the 26th minute, but Benin’s goaltender Marcel Dandjinou somehow kept it out. Minutes later, another shot in transition, again denied by Dandjinou. But after halftime, you knew it was coming. Messi gave the home crowd exactly what they paid for. With the game sitting scoreless, he whipped in a corner kick from the left side in the 48th minute that found Nicolás Otamendi, who absolutely powered it into the top of the net with his right foot for the 1-0 lead. Just minutes later, he was at it again, dropping another dime. This time, he found Nico Paz just outside the box from the right sideline, and Paz bent a left-footer perfectly between Dandjinou and the goal post, making it 2-0 in the 61st minute. And then, the moment everyone was waiting for. In the 71st minute, a foul in the box set Argentina up for a penalty. Who else was going to step up? Messi, of course. He lined up and delivered a left-footed strike that sent Dandjinou diving the wrong way. That was it. The final goal of the match, the fitting end to an absolutely spectacular international career. His teammates swarmed him, soaking it all in, as the entire stadium rose for a standing ovation.
What a way to go out, right? One last international goal, two assists, and a 3-0 victory where he played a part in every single score. That performance in front of an adoring home crowd is going to be talked about for years, a truly legendary goodbye to an iconic career.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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