The 39-year-old captain scored a penalty and provided two assists in his final national-team match, a 3–0 friendly victory in Buenos Aires.
Argentina beat Benin 3–0 in a friendly in Buenos Aires that became Lionel Messi’s final match for the national team. A ceremony and concert were held after the game, and a banner reading “Captain Forever” was unfurled on the field.
Messi captained Argentina, played the full match, scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists. It was his 208th appearance for the national side. RIA Novosti reported that he announced his international retirement in late August and had made the decision on July 21.
The 39-year-old forward is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and also holds scoring records for Barcelona and Spain’s league. He is the only player to have won the Ballon d’Or eight times. Messi scored 126 goals for Argentina.
He won the 2022 World Cup, the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima with the national team. Earlier, he won the Under-20 World Cup in 2005 and Olympic gold in 2008. Argentina also finished as World Cup runner-up in 2014 and 2026.