Lionel Messi played his final international game for Argentina on Tuesday, contributing to all three goals in a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires. The friendly turned into an emotional, nation-wide farewell for their hero, capping off a career that included his final World Cup game back in July.
Tears, Tributes, and a Giant Jersey in the Sky
The celebration for Messi started long before the game even kicked off, man. Over in Rosario, about 185 miles northwest of Buenos Aires, a helicopter was towing this absolutely massive replica of Messi’s No. 10 Argentina jersey around the city. Imagine seeing that thing flying over! It was a wild tribute. But back in Buenos Aires, things got incredibly emotional, incredibly fast. Cameras caught Messi in tears as the team bus pulled up to the Estadio Monumental for his final pregame ride with his teammates. Seriously, the guy was already tearing up before he even hit the locker room.
Once inside the stadium, the emotion just kept building. Messi and the crowd were absolutely overcome as the national anthem played. As soon as it finished, fireworks erupted from the field around another giant replica of his jersey right there at midfield. And get this: play actually stopped at the 10-minute mark for *more* fireworks and an in-game celebration. It was a full-on standing ovation, and even the Benin players took a moment to pay their respects directly to Messi. What a scene, truly unforgettable.
He Was Denied, Then Delivered: Messi’s Final International Goal
But it wasn’t just a ceremony; Messi was there to play, and he delivered. He gave the home crowd plenty of thrills throughout the game. In the 26th minute, he cranked an on-target free kick that looked destined for the net, but Benin’s goalkeeper, Marcel Dandjinou, somehow denied it. Minutes later, Messi got off another shot in transition, only for Dandjinou to turn that one back too. You could feel the crowd holding their breath every time he touched the ball.
Then, after halftime, the magic truly happened. With the game still a scoreless tie, Messi delivered a corner kick from the left side in the 48th minute, leading to Argentina’s first goal. He wasn’t done, either. He ended up dishing out a second assist and, of course, scoring the final goal himself. He contributed to every single one of Argentina’s goals in that 3-0 win.
What a way to go out, man. Messi gave Argentina one last show, a final masterclass wrapped in tears and adoration. He is truly their hero, and Tuesday night was all about celebrating that legend one final time on the international stage.
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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