Messi Ends Argentina Career in Style With Goal and Two Assists in 3-0 Win

Lionel Messi ended his Argentina career in style, scoring a second-half penalty and setting up two more goals in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin in Buenos Aires.

The 39-year-old played all 90 minutes of his 208th and final international. His penalty was his 126th goal for Argentina. He had earlier set up goals for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz. A sell-out crowd of 85,000 packed the Monumental, where fans were treated to a laser show, live music and presentations.

After the game, Messi gave a speech lasting nearly 10 minutes. Some of his team-mates, including Manchester City's Enzo Fernandez, were in tears as he admitted he did not want to leave the pitch.

It was an emotional night from the start. Messi was filmed wiping away tears on the team coach, and he looked overcome again during the national anthem. 

Fireworks greeted the players as they came out, and a giant shirt with his number 10 and the word "gracias" was spread across the pitch. Ten minutes in, play stopped for more fireworks, another standing ovation and handshakes from every Benin player.

Messi was still at the heart of everything going forward. He saw two free-kicks well saved, missed two big chances from inside the six-yard box and hit the post late on.

He announced his retirement from international football in August, saying the decision "hurt" but that "the time has come". He wrote his message on July 21, two days after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain. His career goes on at Inter Miami, where his contract runs to the end of the 2028 season.

Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and was sent off less than a minute after coming on, against Hungary. He still went on to win the World Cup and two Copa Americas. He is second on the World Cup scoring list with 21, behind France's Kylian Mbappe on 22. He is also second for goals in all internationals with 125, behind Cristiano Ronaldo on 146.

Tributes came in before the game. Neymar said: "It's not only Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you have done for football." He added: "Thank you for making me love football even more."

Rodrigo De Paul said: "I want to tell him that I love him. He knows that he is my brother and that he has an enormous heart." Angel di Maria said: "I thank him for life."