Songpi: Lionel Messi farewell match took place on Tuesday night at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, and it ended exactly how Argentina fans had dreamed. The 39-year-old played his 208th and last game for Argentina in his farewell match against Benin, delivering a goal and two assists in a 3-0 friendly win. The game was organized after Messi had announced his international retirement following Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final in July 2026, to give him a proper goodbye at home in front of 85,000 fans.
Messi farewell match started with pure emotion long before kickoff. A giant Argentina No.10 shirt reading “Gracias” was unfurled in the center circle, fans lit up the stands with phone lights, and Messi walked out for the last time holding hands with his three sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, with fireworks going off behind him. Benin captain Sessi D’Almeida presented him with a statue of an Amazon warrior and a letter, speaking to him in Spanish. Coach Lionel Scaloni, who was in tears during the anthem, started Messi with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez up front, while Nicolas Otamendi also played his own final game.
Messi farewell match had its first special moment in the 10th minute when the referee stopped play for one minute and the whole stadium stood up to applaud Messi. Every player, coach and fan clapped for the No.10 as he stood in the middle of the pitch taking it all in. On the field, Benin defended deep and threatened on the counter through Rodolfo Aloko and Junior Olaitan, while Argentina dominated the ball. Messi had a shot saved in the 7th minute and missed a volley from a Lautaro cross in the 32nd minute, and the first half ended 0-0.
Messi farewell match came alive in the second half. In the 48th minute, Messi took a corner from the left and found Otamendi, who headed it into the roof of the net to make it 1-0. It was a perfect moment in the Messi farewell match as two legends playing their last game combined for the opener. Scaloni then substituted Otamendi and Tagliafico to give them their own ovations, bringing on Lisandro Martinez and Facundo Medina.
Messi farewell match saw its second goal on the hour mark. Messi received the ball on the left, drew three defenders, and slipped a beautiful pass to substitute Nico Paz, who had just come on for Rodrigo De Paul. Paz turned and curled a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0. It was Messi’s 69th assist for Argentina and a symbolic moment in the Messi farewell match, with a 19-year-old scoring from a pass by the greatest.
Messi farewell match got the goal everyone was waiting for in the 71st minute. Agustin Giay was fouled inside the box by Tamimou Ouorou, and the referee pointed to the spot. Messi stepped up for the penalty in his farewell match and smashed it into the top right corner, sending keeper Marcel Dandjinou the wrong way. It was his 126th goal for Argentina and his last ever goal for the national team. The entire Monumental chanted “Messi, Messi” and then “One more year”.
Messi farewell match nearly had more goals. In the 75th minute Messi missed an open goal from six yards after a pass from Nico Gonzalez, and in the 89th minute his left-foot shot hit the post after a touch from the keeper. Benin had chances too but Emiliano Martinez made two good saves. The game finished Argentina 3-0 Benin in the Messi farewell match, with Messi playing the full 90 minutes and finishing with one goal, two assists, three shots on target and four chances created.
Messi farewell match ended with scenes that will be remembered for years. After the final whistle, teammates swarmed Messi, opponents asked for selfies, and a guard of honour was formed for his final lap around the Monumental with his family beside him. Then came a drone show above the stadium that formed the World Cup, Copa America trophies and the message “Gracias Leo”. Messi was in tears throughout.
Messi farewell match speech was the most emotional part of the night. Taking the microphone, Messi said, “My dad is the first person I think about tonight. It has been a huge pride to defend this shirt for over 20 years. We never stopped fighting. I want to thank all my teammates, you made all my dreams come true – the World Cup, the Copa America, the Finalissima. I was surrounded by warriors. I don’t want to leave this place. I don’t want to leave the field. I love all of you and I am proud to be Argentinian.”
Messi farewell match statistics now complete his incredible international career. He retires with 208 games, 126 goals, 70 assists, Olympic Gold 2008, Copa America 2021 and 2024, Finalissima 2022 and FIFA World Cup 2022. From a red card on debut in 2005 to the highest high in Qatar, Messi farewell match closed the story perfectly. Tributes came from everywhere, including Neymar who said, “Not only Argentina thanks you, the whole world thanks you for everything you have done for football.”
Messi farewell match was more than a friendly, it was a national goodbye. Argentina will now start a new era without him, but the Messi farewell match gave fans the perfect ending they wanted – at home, with a win, with a goal, and with Messi smiling through tears saying thank you one last time.
