Messi's 126th international goal came in his 208th and final game, a 71st-minute penalty against Benin.
Lionel Messi ended his Argentina career on Tuesday night, October 6, with a goal. The 39-year-old converted a penalty in the 71st minute of a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, his 208th and final appearance for the national team.
Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz had already put the hosts in control before Messi's spot kick. When the ball hit the net, the sold-out crowd of more than 85,000 broke into a chant of "Messi, Messi."
Messi was visibly moved during the national anthem before kick-off, with his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro in the stadium.
After the final whistle he took the microphone and struggled to hold back his emotions. Notjustok carried his words:
“It is very difficult to say something today; there are so many emotions.” “The first thing I think about is my father.”
Messi also said that playing for the national team was "the best thing that happened to me in life."
Fox Sports columnist Luis Miguel Echegaray picked out a different moment. Thiago Messi, 13, his oldest son, hugged his father during the post-game tributes, and the two cried together. Echegaray wrote that "the tribute was not a farewell. It was a homecoming."
The celebration carried on past the final whistle with music, fireworks, lights and a drone display. ESPN reports that the drone show lit up the sky above the stadium with moments from Messi's career, including the image of him holding the World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022.
Yahoo Sports reports Messi declared his retirement from international football on August 31, weeks after Argentina fell short in the 2026 World Cup final. He shared it in a three-page handwritten farewell message on social media.
The retirement also settles several of Cristiano Ronaldo's records in his favour, according to Legit.ng. Ronaldo has 234 appearances for Portugal to Messi's 208, and 146 goals to Messi's 126. Messi's penalty took him to 46 different opponents, while Ronaldo has scored against 49. Legit.ng notes that the goal left Messi "20 behind Ronaldo".
Ronaldo, 41, remains committed to Portugal, Yahoo Sports reports, after leaving the Nations League camp following disagreements with coach Jorge Jesus. He has apologised for leaving without permission.
Messi continues his club career with Inter Miami.
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