Lionel Messi brought his international career to an emotional conclusion on Tuesday, October 6, admitting that leaving Argentina’s national team would be one of the most painful experiences of his career.
The 39-year-old played his final match for Argentina in a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Messi scored once and provided two assists before addressing the supporters who had gathered to witness his farewell.
After more than two decades representing his country, Messi acknowledged that he would struggle with no longer being part of the national team. He explained that he wished he could continue playing for Argentina throughout his life because representing his country had been the greatest privilege of his football career.
The Inter Miami forward also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to wear Argentina’s shirt for more than 20 years. He emphasized that even during the most difficult periods, he never stopped fighting or giving everything he had for the national team.
The farewell was particularly emotional because Messi had recently lost his father, Jorge Messi, who died in August. During his speech, the Argentina captain acknowledged that his father was among the first people on his mind as he reflected on the conclusion of his international career.
Messi also addressed Argentina’s disappointing conclusion to the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina reached the final but lost to Spain, falling short of successfully defending the title won in Qatar four years earlier. Messi rejected suggestions that anything unusual had happened during the final, explaining that Argentina had been physically exhausted following its demanding semifinal against England.
He also defended his teammates, emphasizing that they had given everything throughout the tournament and that Spain had simply been the better team in the final.
Despite that disappointment, Messi’s international career included some of the greatest achievements in Argentine football history.
He helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América, ending the country’s long wait for a major international trophy. He subsequently led the team to victory in the 2022 Finalissima against Italy and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina added another Copa América title in 2024, giving Messi another major international achievement before his final World Cup appearance in 2026.
During his farewell, Messi reflected on those successes and thanked his teammates for helping him fulfill the childhood dream of becoming a world champion. He stressed that Argentina’s achievements had been possible because of the unity within the squad.
The match against Benin also provided an appropriate conclusion on the field.
Messi contributed directly to all three goals in Argentina’s victory. Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz joined him on the scoresheet, with Messi converting a penalty in his final international appearance.
However, the result was secondary to the significance of the occasion.
Messi thanked Argentina’s supporters for their loyalty throughout his career, remembering how the national team consistently received extraordinary backing both at home and abroad.
He also recalled the first match Argentina played at the Monumental following its 2022 World Cup triumph, describing that celebration as one of the most unforgettable experiences of his career.
Looking ahead, Messi explained that he would continue supporting Argentina from outside the national team. He encouraged the players and supporters to remain united, particularly during difficult periods.
The emotional farewell marked the end of a 21-year international career that included World Cup glory, continental championships and countless memorable performances.
For Messi, however, the greatest honor was always the opportunity to represent Argentina.
