Lionel Messi has officially brought the curtain down on his remarkable Argentina career, ending more than two decades of international football with an emotional farewell at the Estadio Monumental on Tuesday night.
The 39-year-old forward marked his final appearance for the national team with a goal and two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0, before taking the microphone to address thousands of supporters who had gathered to celebrate one of the greatest players in the country’s history.
It was a farewell that carried the weight of a career filled with extraordinary highs, painful disappointments and, ultimately, redemption.
For more than 20 years, Messi wore the famous blue-and-white shirt, carrying the expectations of a football-mad nation that had waited decades for another World Cup triumph.
His journey with Argentina began in 2005 and was not always celebrated.
Messi endured years of criticism after Argentina repeatedly fell short in major tournaments, including three consecutive final defeats at the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América.
At one point, the pressure became so intense that Messi announced his international retirement after Argentina’s Copa América Centenario final defeat to Chile in 2016.
But he returned, and the decision changed the course of his international legacy.
Messi eventually led Argentina to Copa América glory in 2021, ending the country’s long wait for a major senior international trophy.
A year later came the defining moment of his career.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi captained Argentina to their third World Cup title, scoring seven goals and winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
He later added another Copa América title and the Finalissima to his international honours, cementing his place among Argentina’s football legends.
On Tuesday, however, the focus was no longer on trophies or records. It was on saying goodbye.
After Argentina’s victory over Benin, Messi stood before the supporters and reflected on the privilege of representing his country.
“I have nothing left but to be grateful. It was a huge honour to wear this jersey for more than 20 years. I never stopped fighting, giving my all,” Messi said.
“I promise you I would love to come here for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you. I feel that it’s the right time to retire.”
The emotional moment became even more personal when Messi revealed that his first thought during the farewell was of his father, who died in August.
His father’s death was among the factors that contributed to his decision to end his international career at this stage.
Messi also paid tribute to the teammates, both past and present, who shared his journey and helped Argentina transform years of disappointment into an era of success.
“Today I say goodbye to all of you. I’m going to miss defending the colours of the national team, but I will always be supporting these kids and all of the ones that come after,” he said.
He stressed that unity had been central to Argentina’s success, recalling how the team remained together through difficult moments before eventually achieving its biggest dreams.
“We had an extraordinary group and that’s why we achieved everything we did,” Messi added.
His final words captured the emotion of the occasion and his deep connection with the country he represented for more than two decades.
“I’m grateful to God for being Argentinian, proud of being Argentinian. Thank you all. I love you.”
And with those words, one of the most remarkable chapters in Argentine football came to an end.
Messi leaves the national team not only as its captain and talisman but as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and all-time leading goalscorer, having transformed a career once defined by heartbreak into one crowned by the World Cup and multiple international trophies.
For a generation of Argentines, his departure marks the end of an era but his legacy in the blue and white shirt is likely to endure for generations.