Lionel Messi marked his 208th and farewell game for Argentina with his 126th goal as his country bid an emotional goodbye to the soccer star on Oct. 6

NEED TO KNOW

• Lionel Messi ended his 21-year Argentina career with a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin on Oct. 6
• The soccer star won the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles with Argentina
• Messi will continue playing for Inter Miami CF through the 2028 Major League Soccer season

Lionel Messi played one last game for Argentina that fans won’t ever forget.

The 39-year-old soccer star shared an emotional message after scoring his last goal with the Argentina national team during his farewell match against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

“Now, inevitably, I face the saddest day of my career: saying goodbye to the national team,” said Messi, per ESPN, after scoring in a 3-0 win over Benin. “Goodbye to all of you. I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss defending the national team’s colors,” he continued, adding, “But now I’ll be right there alongside you, supporting these guys and everyone who comes after them. Always, always united.”

Messi played 208 games with Argentina across 21 years. He led the team to their 2022 World Cup win and a pair of Copa América wins, securing titles in 2021 and 2024.

“I would love to keep coming back forever, because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you. The most beautiful thing,” he said in front of an emotional crowd.

The Lionel Scaloni-led squad played three friendly matches during the international break beginning on Sept. 21 and ending on Oct. 6. Argentina was victorious in all three of its games, extending its winning streak in exhibition games to 22 consecutive matches.

The Argentina federation president Claudio Tapia previously noted that the final game will be dedicated to the soccer star, after Messi announced his retirement from the national team on Aug. 31.

In an Instagram post that day, Messi — whose father died weeks after his team lost in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final — confirmed it was the end.

“After all this time that has passed since the final, and after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I am retiring from the National Team,” Messi began in a lengthy message, “It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts, to my core, but I understand that it’s the right time.”

“I swear that I always gave my all, not just in the last few years when we won everything, but before that too,” he continued. “I always fought and gave everything for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentinian through football.”

Messi also thanked his fans “for all the love and support over these 20 years” in the post. “I’m going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I’m going to be just one of you, cheering and supporting you from the sidelines (in good times and bad, even more so),” he wrote.

While Messi’s time on the Argentinian team has come to an end, he will continue to play with Inter Miami CF. He is under contract with the club through the end of the 2028 Major League Soccer season.

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