Lionel Messi signed off from international football the way he played it: with a goal and two assists. The Messi final Argentina match ended in a 3-0 victory over Benin in an international friendly on Tuesday night at a sold-out Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, bringing the curtain down on a 21-year Argentina career.
Messi’s three sons walked out with him for the pre-match ceremony, while his mother and wife watched from the stands and fellow Argentina greats Ángel Di María and Sergio Agüero looked on from the sidelines. Just 10 minutes in, the game was halted so fans, teammates and even Benin’s players could give the captain a standing ovation, with a giant No. 10 Argentina jersey displayed at midfield.
Messi Final Argentina Match: Three Goals at the Monumental
It was fitting that the night belonged to two veterans playing their final international games. Nicolás Otamendi, 38, opened the scoring in the 48th minute, heading home a Messi corner. The defender, one of Messi’s longest-serving international teammates with 139 caps to his name, was substituted in the 52nd minute to a warm farewell from the stadium, with his teammates gathering around him and Messi among those who embraced him.
According to theScore, Messi’s second assist was even more symbolic: a short pass to Nico Paz, the 22-year-old rising star widely seen as a candidate to inherit Argentina’s No. 10 shirt, who finished in the 61st minute to make it 2-0.
Messi saved his own goal for last. In the 71st minute, the captain buried a penalty to his right to complete the 3-0 scoreline, sparking delirious celebrations at the Monumental. The match was his 208th and final Argentina appearance, and his 126th senior international goal — both of them Albiceleste records, as theScore reported.
First-Half Drama Before the Goals
The night did not follow the script at first. Kickoff was delayed by around 30 minutes, according to TNT Sports’ live commentary, and Benin — ranked 93rd in the world — refused to play the role of extras. The visitors threatened early, with Aiyegun Tosin guiding a close-range effort just wide and goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez producing key saves to keep Argentina from going behind.
Messi, meanwhile, hunted his goal. He stung the goalkeeper’s hands from around 30 yards in the 8th minute and poked a Rodrigo De Paul cross wide in the 23rd, each time sending the Monumental into a roar of anticipation. Argentina went into the break at 0-0, and Benin’s resistance only broke when Messi’s corner found Otamendi three minutes into the second half.
The Send-Off: Ovations, Drones and a Tribute to Jorge
The evening was staged as a full farewell. Argentina wore a special one-off shirt for the night — mostly sky blue with a single white stripe down the middle and gold lettering spelling MESSI and the No. 10, with a large Sun of May across the back, according to Mint. Teammates including Rodrigo De Paul and Julián Álvarez worked throughout to set the captain up, and Martínez’s saves ensured Benin never spoiled the occasion.
After the final whistle, a spectacular drone light show lit up the night sky above the stadium, including an image of Messi lifting the World Cup. Messi then addressed the crowd, remembering his late father Jorge, who died in August.
Messi Final Argentina Match: Numbers That Define the Era
The farewell came less than three months after Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final, where Spain won 1-0 after extra time on July 19, 2026, in New Jersey. Messi, who was in tears after relinquishing the title, had dreamed of emulating Pelé by winning back-to-back tournaments, according to NDTV. Instead, the July defeat became the closing chapter of his Argentina story.
His final international totals stand as Argentina records:
- 208 caps — the most in Argentina history
- 126 goals — the most in Argentina history
- 69 assists — per MLSsoccer
- 21 years — an international career stretching from his 2005 debut to 2026
Messi, 39, announced his international retirement in August 2026, weeks after the World Cup final and after the death of his father, Jorge. Tuesday’s friendly against Benin was his chosen goodbye — and a full-circle moment for a man who debuted for Argentina in 2005, when the side’s history was still dominated by Diego Maradona. Messi continues his club career with Inter Miami, and is expected back in action on Saturday against D.C. United.
FAQ
What was the score in Messi’s final Argentina match?
Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in an international friendly on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the sold-out Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Nicolás Otamendi (48′), Nico Paz (61′) and Lionel Messi (71′, penalty) scored the goals.
How many goals and assists did Messi have in his final game for Argentina?
Messi contributed one goal and two assists in his farewell match: he set up Otamendi’s opener from a corner, assisted Nico Paz’s second goal, and then buried a 71st-minute penalty himself.
What are Messi’s final Argentina records?
Messi retires from international football with 208 caps, 126 goals and 69 assists (per MLSsoccer) across 21 years — the caps and goals totals are both Argentina records.
Was this also Otamendi’s last game for Argentina?
Yes. Veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi, 38, also played his final international match against Benin, scoring Argentina’s opener before being substituted in the 52nd minute to a warm ovation.
Sources: USA Today, theScore, MLSsoccer
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