Lionel Messi has delivered an emotional farewell message to Argentina after bringing the curtain down on his extraordinary international career.
The Argentina captain made his final appearance for the national team on Tuesday night, October 6, 2026, as the world champions defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Messi marked his farewell memorably, scoring Argentina’s third goal after Nicolás Otamendi and Nicolás Paz had put the hosts in control. The occasion, however, was about far more than the result.
With more than 85,000 supporters inside the Monumental, Messi took the microphone after the match and struggled to hold back his emotions.
“It is very difficult to say something today; there are so many emotions. The first thing I think about is my father.”
The 39-year-old reflected on more than two decades representing Argentina and described wearing the national-team shirt as one of the greatest privileges of his life. “Playing for the Argentina national team was the best thing that happened to me in life,” Messi said.
Messi also paid tribute to the teammates who shared the most important moments of his international career. After years of disappointment and criticism, Messi finally achieved his biggest dreams with Argentina, winning the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He credited his teammates for helping him fulfil those ambitions and thanked the supporters who continued to stand behind the team through both its difficult and successful periods.
The Argentine icon also urged future generations to continue supporting and defending the national team. His message reflected the remarkable transformation of his relationship with Argentina. Once heavily criticised for his inability to win a major international trophy, Messi eventually became the central figure of Argentina’s most successful era in decades.
An emotional end to Lionel Messi’s extraordinary chapter
Messi’s farewell had already begun with an emotional moment before kick-off, when he was visibly moved during the Argentine national anthem. His three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, were also present for the special occasion. The match itself provided the perfect sporting ending.
Argentina secured a 3-0 victory, while Messi scored in his final appearance before receiving a prolonged ovation from the supporters inside the Monumental.
The celebrations continued after the final whistle with music, fireworks, lights and a drone display dedicated to Messi’s remarkable career. After 21 years, 208 appearances and a record 126 goals for Argentina, Messi has now said goodbye to the national team.