October 6, 2026

Curtains come down on stellar international career of the legendary Lionel Messi

The Argentine legend Lionel Messi brought the curtains down on his 21-year international career on Tuesday night, bidding farewell to adoring Argentina fans in an emotional final appearance for the former world champions in Buenos Aires.

In a perfectly scripted finale, the 39-year-old, widely regarded as the greatest football player in history, signed off with his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 supporters, as Argentina cruised to a 3-nil victory over Benin.

Messi, playing in his record-extending 208th international, also provided the assist for the opening goal, scored by veteran Nicolas Otamendi in minute 48, with Nico Paz doubling the lead at the hour mark.

But the match was a footnote to the occasion itself, which saw Messi savouring the adulation of the Monumental Stadium crowd one last time for an event that had been billed as “The Last Tango.”

Messi took the field alongside his three children and received affectionate waves from his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, who were watching from a VIP box.

Shortly before kick-off, a giant Argentina jersey bearing the word “Gracias” (thank you) above the football superstar’s No. 10 was laid out on the pitch as the crowd roared their approval.

The match was halted in the 10th minute — in tribute to Messi’s famous shirt number — for a minute-long ovation to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.

He crowned the occasion with a goal from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.

At the final whistle, a drone show lit up the night sky above the stadium, showing Messi’s image and thanking the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner for his career.