The game against Benin was Lionel Messi’s final appearance for Argentina before the home crowd and a chance to look back on a career spanning more than two decades.
Lionel Messi’s farewell appearance for Argentina took place on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, where the team faced Benin. For supporters, the friendly became an evening of memories as the captain brought his time with the national team to a close in front of the home crowd.
The celebration began before the teams came out, with Argentine musicians performing at the stadium. La Nación reported that the stands were about 80% full two hours before kickoff. Fans waited for the team and followed familiar rituals while Messi’s teammates prepared for the match. Messi walked onto the field with his children.
The Monumental was also tied to an early chapter of his career. In October 2005, he played his first home match for Argentina there, against Peru; Argentina won 2–0. La Nación reported that Messi scored 19 goals for the national team at the stadium.
The report revisits different stages of his career: disappointment after final defeats, a brief departure from the national team and his return, followed by Argentina’s victories in the Copa América and the World Cup. The evening brought together sporting history and fans’ personal memories. The Associated Press and El País also covered the farewell match and its significance for Argentine supporters.