After Argentina’s win over Benin, Lionel Messi described his farewell to the national team as one of the most emotional and difficult moments of his career. He thanked his family, teammates and supporters and said he would now cheer for Argentina from the stands.
Lionel Messi said it was difficult to speak because of the emotion after his final Argentina match, a 3-0 win over Benin. The first person who came to mind was his late father. Messi thanked those who had supported him and said representing Argentina had been a source of great pride.
He acknowledged that stepping away from the national team would be difficult. Playing for Argentina, he said, was one of the best things that could happen to a footballer, but he felt the time had come to leave. Looking back at the 2026 World Cup, Messi said the team had dreamed of winning the tournament again and came close before losing the final to Spain.
He described the semifinal against England as physically and emotionally draining for the players. Messi thanked his teammates and the group with whom he won the World Cup, the Finalissima and the Copa América. He said he had taken the field believing Argentina could compete with any side because he was surrounded by players ready to give everything.
Messi also thanked fans across Argentina, saying their presence made the team feel at home. He called the happiest day of his career the team’s first match at the Monumental after its 2022 World Cup victory, a friendly against Panama. By contrast, he described his farewell as the saddest day because he would miss defending the national colours. He said he would now move to the stands and support Argentina alongside other fans.