Emotions take over as Lionel Messi puts icing on Argentina career cake in final victory

Lionel Messi played his last ever match for the Argentina national team, bidding farewell to a legion of fans during a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

In a perfectly scripted finale, the 39-year-old widely regarded as the greatest football player in history signed off with his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 supporters.

Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Benin with three second half goals, including a Messi penalty in the 71st minute.

Messi, playing in his record-extending 208th international, also provided the assist for the opening goal scored by veteran Nicolas Otamendi, with Nico Paz also scoring.

But the match was a footnote to the occasion itself, which saw Messi savoring the adulation of the Monumental Stadium crowd one last time for an event which had been billed as ‘The Last Tango’.

“It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this jersey for more than 20 years,” Messi told fans in a post-match address.

“Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful. I swear I’d like to play for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.”

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Messi though said he had no regrets about his decision to retire, citing Argentina’s grueling World Cup campaign, which took place as his late father was seriously ill, as a factor.

“Even though I want to be here all my life, I feel that this is the moment. The last World Cup was too much, everything I had to live through,” said Messi.

Beforehand, Messi wiped away tears as the bus carrying him and his Argentina team-mates made its way through crowds of well-wishers en route to the stadium.

Messi took the field alongside his three children and received affectionate waves from his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, who were watching from a VIP box.

Shortly before kickoff, a giant Argentina jersey bearing the word “Gracias” (Thank You) above the football superstar’s No.10 was laid out on the pitch as the crowd roared their approval.

Messi welled up again as Falklands War veteran Fabio Santana sang the national anthem beside a banner which read — “The Malvinas are Argentine” — the same banner held aloft by players after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England.

The match was halted in the 10th minute — in tribute to Messi’s famous shirt number — for a minute-long ovation to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.

He crowned the occasion with a goal from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.

At the final whistle a drone show lit up the night sky above the stadium, showing Messi’s image and thanking the eight-time Ballon D’Or-winner for his career.

Messi’s farewell came two and a half months after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey, where Messi exited in tears after making little impression in an ill-tempered 1-0 loss.

“I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance,” Messi wrote at the time.

Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, although following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago, he revealed he may hang up his boots for good sooner than anticipated.

Messi’s departure comes four years after his greatest triumph in international football, leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup to end the country’s 36-year wait for a third title, cementing his status as Diego Maradona’s heir.