Lionel Messi Bids Emotional Farewell to Argentina With Goal in Benin Win
Lionel Messi has played his final match for Argentina, scoring in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. According to Goal, the 39-year-old captain gave a tearful speech to supporters afterwards, closing a 21-year international career.
How the farewell match went
Outlook India reports that Messi scored once and set up two other goals, with his strike coming from the penalty spot. CBS Sports says he created Argentina’s second goal for Nico Paz in the 61st minute, and described the game as far from pretty but the expected result.
AFP, as carried by The Daily Star, puts the crowd at 85,000 and says the goal was Messi’s 126th for his country. The Daily Star adds that he wiped away tears as the team bus passed crowds of well-wishers on the way to the stadium.
CBS Sports reports that most of the lineup that won the 2022 World Cup was present, and that a drone show displaying Messi’s face and shirt followed his speech.
What Messi said
Goal reports that Messi opened by saying emotions made it hard to speak, and that his first thought was of his father. He told fans that playing for Argentina “was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
He also said he never stopped fighting during the worst moments, and thanked supporters for filling stadiums after the 2022 triumph. Goal says he urged Argentines to stay united through a period of change, warning that critics of the national team would appear.
How the retirement came about
AFP-based reports say Messi announced at the end of August that he was leaving the national team after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain. Outlets give different dates, with Africanews saying August 29 and others citing a post on August 31.
The AFP report quoted him calling it “a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul.” It also noted that his announcement followed the death of his father, Jorge, and that he had voiced doubts about playing on for much longer.
On September 15, the Argentine Football Association named him in the squad for the Benin game. President Claudio Tapia said the invitation was meant to give him the farewell he deserved at home, and he invited the 2022 World Cup winners to attend.
Quick timeline:
- 2005: Messi debuts for Argentina at 18, per Telangana Today.
- 2021 and 2024: Copa America titles, per AFP.
- 2022: World Cup triumph in Qatar.
- Late August 2026: Retirement announced after the final loss to Spain.
- October 6, 2026: Final match against Benin.
What happens next
Goal says Argentina must now plan its upcoming fixtures without its captain. AFP reports that his contract with Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 MLS season. The sources reviewed do not say whether he will take any official role with the national team.
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