Messi Says Goodbye to Argentina National Team in Emotional Farewell Match

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The era of Lionel Messi representing Argentina on the international soccer stage has concluded. The 39-year-old legend played his final match for his country on Tuesday, a 3-0 friendly victory against Benin, where he scored a penalty and set up two other goals.

His departure leaves a void for a nation that has had an intense, often complex relationship with its most famous export. For 21 years, Messi has been a central figure for Argentina, amassing 126 goals and leading the team to two Copa América titles and a World Cup championship. The match against Benin, typically an ordinary friendly, transformed into a highly emotional send-off, a moment the soccer-mad country had long anticipated with a mix of gratitude and sadness.

"It feels like an era is ending, knowing he won’t play for the national team anymore," said Valentino Ruso, 17, a fan in Buenos Aires. "I’m sad. I think everyone is upset today. He will be missed."

Messi's journey with the national team was not always smooth. Despite his global icon status, he faced scrutiny from some compatriots who questioned his commitment due to his early departure for Barcelona's youth academy and his perceived quiet demeanor compared to the flamboyant Diego Maradona, the hero of Argentina's 1986 World Cup win.

Winning Over His Nation

During the 2000s and 2010s, while Messi collected numerous trophies with his club, a major international title for Argentina eluded him. This led to comparisons with Maradona and doubts about his patriotism, particularly after Argentina lost three consecutive finals, including a brief retirement from the national team in 2016.

"There’s some resentment by the people that stay in Argentina for those who leave, this sense of, ‘They think they’re better than us,’" said Andrés Rabinovich, a University of Chicago scholar who studies Argentine culture. "The old-school Argentines would say, ‘Diego is the Argentine. Messi is soft, a little Spanish boy.’"

The turning point arrived in 2021 when Argentina defeated Brazil to win the Copa América, their first continental title in 28 years. The victory elicited an emotional outpouring from Messi, dispelling lingering doubts about his connection to his country.

This was followed by the ultimate triumph: the 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, which cemented Messi's legacy as a national hero. The win sparked widespread celebrations across Argentina, with millions taking to the streets in adulation.

"Winning clearly disarmed his critics. That’s how soccer works in Argentina," said Diego Murzi, a sports sociologist. "Criticism of things off the field goes hand in hand with defeats on it."

A Farewell 'Tango'

Argentina's soccer federation organized the match against Benin as "the last tango" for Messi. The game, which was Messi's 208th international appearance, sold out more than 85,000 tickets within 90 minutes, with resale prices soaring. Legends from Argentina's past World Cup-winning squads were in attendance.

After the final whistle, a visibly emotional Messi addressed the roaring crowd, expressing his love for the country and his teammates. "Even through the worst moments we went through, I never stopped fighting, battling, giving everything I had, wanting to always be here," he said. "I love all of you, and I will miss all of you. I am proud to be Argentine."

Messi's No. 10 jersey, long synonymous with his presence, has no immediate successor, with coach Lionel Scaloni indicating the decision would be deferred.

"I don’t think we’ll have somebody like him again, somebody with that sort of enduring power," said Pablo Brescia, a University of South Florida professor who writes about Argentine culture and soccer. "Like Maradona, he’ll be unique — a figure that can’t be repeated."

While Messi continues his career with Inter Miami through the 2028 season, his captivating performances for the Argentine national team have now concluded, leaving behind a legacy that transcends the sport.