Lionel Messi could hardly have scripted a more fitting goodbye to Argentina. In front of more than 85,000 emotional fans at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium, the captain delivered one final masterclass, scoring a goal and creating two more as Argentina beat Benin 3-0.

The friendly on October 6 marked the end of Messi’s 21-year international career. At 39, the Argentine superstar walked onto the pitch for the final time in the famous blue-and-white shirt, knowing that an era was coming to an end.

The result mattered, but the night was always going to belong to Messi. The packed Monumental turned his farewell into a celebration of a player who transformed Argentina’s fortunes and eventually became one of the country’s most loved sporting figures.

Messi was involved in every Argentina goal. Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring after meeting Messi’s corner early in the second half. Messi then supplied Nico Paz for the second goal before completing the scoring himself from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.

The penalty was particularly symbolic. It was Messi’s 126th international goal, extending his record as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer. His final appearance was also his 208th for the national team, making him Argentina’s most-capped player.

The emotion began well before kick-off. Messi arrived at the stadium with his three children, while his family watched from the stands. He was visibly moved during the national anthem, and the atmosphere grew even more intense when the crowd began chanting his name.

The match was briefly paused in the 10th minute — a tribute to Messi’s famous shirt number. Players from both teams joined the moment, while the crowd gave the captain a prolonged standing ovation.

A giant Argentina shirt carrying Messi’s famous No. 10 was also displayed on the pitch before the match. Later, the celebrations continued with fireworks and a drone display, turning the Monumental into a giant farewell stage.

Messi’s journey with Argentina has been anything but straightforward. Early in his international career, he faced relentless criticism whenever Argentina failed to win a major trophy. Comparisons with Diego Maradona followed him for years, while defeats in major finals created doubts about whether his brilliance with Barcelona could ever be matched at international level.

That story changed dramatically in the final stage of his career.

Messi finally lifted a major senior international trophy when Argentina won the Copa América in 2021. A year later came the defining achievement: the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Messi captained Argentina to glory and won the Golden Ball. Argentina also won another Copa América in 2024.

His final years with Argentina therefore carried a very different feeling from the early part of his career. The player once criticised for falling short was now being celebrated as the leader who delivered the trophies his country had waited for.

Even after announcing his international retirement in August, Messi agreed to make one final appearance before the home crowd. FIFA had earlier confirmed that the Benin friendly would serve as his farewell at the Monumental.

The decision does not mean Messi is retiring from football altogether. He is expected to continue his club career with Inter Miami, but his days wearing the Argentina shirt are now over.

His farewell also coincided with the end of another veteran’s international journey. Otamendi, who scored Argentina’s opening goal, was also playing his final match for the national side. That added another layer to an evening already filled with nostalgia.

Messi’s contribution to Argentina goes beyond goals and trophies. He leaves as the country’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, having carried the No. 10 shirt through victories, disappointments and some of the most memorable nights in Argentine football.

His relationship with the supporters changed along the way. The player who once left the pitch to criticism eventually walked off to an overwhelming roar of gratitude.

After the final whistle, Messi addressed the crowd from the centre of the pitch. He spoke about the pride of wearing the Argentina shirt and the privilege of representing his country for more than two decades.

There was no dramatic ending, no last-minute winner and no need for one. Messi had already given Argentina enough memories.

His final contribution — a goal, two assists and another victory — simply added one more chapter to a story that had already become part of football history.

Argentina will now have to imagine life without its captain, No. 10 and greatest international scorer. But on a night designed to say goodbye, Messi offered his country one last reminder of what made him special: when Argentina needed its greatest player one final time, he was still there.