Messi ends Argentina career with goal and two assists in 3-0 farewell win

Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina on Tuesday night, scoring and setting up two goals as the national team beat Benin 3-0 in Buenos Aires.

The fixture at the Estadio Monumental was staged as a farewell to the World Cup-winning captain. Multiple reports say Messi contributed a goal and two assists in the victory, helping ensure his last appearance in the blue and white ended on a high note.

According to one report, Messi’s goal came from the penalty spot. That same account described the pre-match and in-stadium celebrations: fans wearing Messi masks, the Argentina Football Association placing a pitch-size replica jersey on the field and fireworks displays during the evening.

Why it mattered

The match marked the formal end of Messi’s international career with Argentina. The result and his direct contributions to all three goals provided a fitting conclusion for a player widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats. For Argentine supporters the evening combined sporting success with pageantry, acknowledging a long and decorated national-team tenure.

Context

Reports agree on the scoreline and Messi’s central role in the goals, but descriptions of the ceremonies and the detail that his goal came from a penalty appear in a single account. Organisers used the game both to celebrate Messi’s achievements and to give fans a final opportunity to see him play at home.

What’s next

Sources do not provide details about Messi’s immediate plans following the farewell match, or whether he will maintain any formal association with Argentina’s national team going forward. Information about Benin’s performance and tactical adjustments in the match is limited in the available reports.

The evening in Buenos Aires combined a convincing team win with symbolic tributes to a long-serving captain, closing a major chapter in international football.