Messi caps Argentina farewell with a penalty, two assists

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina:

Lionel Messi turned his official farewell for Argentina into a gala performance, contributing a penalty and two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin on Tuesday night at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, where the crowd offered a deafening final ovation to the genius who defined the footballing pulse of a nation for two decades.

In front of 85,000 fans, the superstar capped off an international career spanning 21 years, 126 goals, a 2022 World Cup victory, and two Copa América titles.

“It was a source of great pride to wear this jersey for over 20 years,” Messi told the crowd, speaking into a microphone from the centre of the pitch. “I never stopped fighting, never stopped giving my all. I would love to keep coming back forever, because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.”

His teammates — many of them overcome with emotion — along with the coaching staff led by Lionel Scaloni and the fans, gave him a standing ovation.

“I’m going to miss you all. Now I’ll be on your side, supporting the national team and the guys who come next,” Messi promised. “When we’re united, we’re stronger than anyone and can overcome anything. Tough times lie ahead, because what this group achieved won’t be easy to repeat.”

Orchestrating win

Following a corner kick taken by Messi, defender Nicolás Otamendi connected with a header to open the scoring in the 48th minute. Messi then provided an assist to young talent Nicolás Paz, who paid tribute to the star with an exquisite left-footed finish in the 61st.

Ten minutes later, Messi buried a left-footed penalty into the top corner, adding to his tally as the Albiceleste’s all-time leading scorer.

“Olé, olé, Messi,” the crowd chanted in his honour.

Passing the torch

Despite still playing at a high level at age 39, Messi announced on August 31 that the end of his time with Argentina was set.

Messi played his final match — his 208th for Argentina — amid a spectacular fireworks display. He wore a special edition Albiceleste jersey featuring wider vertical stripes than the standard design, a giant sun, and a golden No. 10 on the back. The back detail featured a goat’s horns in the print — a nod to the “GOAT”, referencing both the animal and his status as the “Greatest of All Time”.

Ten minutes after kickoff in the international friendly, the referee paused the match to honour the Argentine captain. Rivals and teammates approached to greet him while fans rose for a standing ovation. Messi raised his hand in acknowledgement.

After the match ended, he thanked his teammates for the titles they had won and left them with a directive: “We need to build a strong, united group because there are people who want the national team to fail, and we shouldn’t give them the satisfaction.”

From heartbreak to World Cup glory

A successor to the legendary Diego Maradona, Messi made his senior national team debut in 2005. His journey was fraught with frustration until 2022, when he finally lifted the World Cup — a triumph that secured his place in the pantheon of the sport’s greatest players and cemented his status as a national hero in Argentina.