Lionel Messi played the final match of his 21-year international career for Argentina on Tuesday night, leading his country out for a friendly against Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old captain was surrounded by his family for the emotional farewell, which marked his 208th appearance for the national team. His wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, was joined in the stands by his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini, and their children.
Wearing Argentina jerseys, the family clapped and filmed as Messi walked onto the pitch for pre-match warm-ups before his introduction to an 85,000-strong crowd in the capital. His three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, later walked alongside him through the tunnel ahead of kickoff.
The match against West African side Benin served as the centerpiece of a national homage organized by the Argentine Football Association, which dubbed the event "the last tango." All 85,000 tickets for the stadium sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale.
Family support at Estadio Monumental
Estadio Monumental, the home ground of River Plate and Argentina's largest sports venue, provided the backdrop for Messi's international curtain call under manager Lionel Scaloni. Members of Argentina's 2022 World Cup winning squad and their families were invited back to the stadium to join the homage.
Outside the venue, thousands of supporters flooded the streets of Buenos Aires carrying giant banners, setting off flares, and wearing face paint or tattoos depicting the star player. Fireworks lit up the sky above the capital before the game began.
In Messi's hometown of Rosario, a city in central Argentina where the forward began his football journey, a giant national team jersey bearing his No 10 was flown across the sky by helicopter in tribute.
Tuesday night's appearance closed a remarkable international career that included 125 goals, two Copa America titles, and a World Cup trophy. Four years ago in Qatar, Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup final, securing the country's third global title and claiming the one major trophy that had eluded him for two decades.
Tribute to Jorge Messi
The emotional match took place almost exactly two months after the death of Messi's father, Jorge Messi, who passed away on August 7 at the age of 68. He died in a hospital in Rosario, near the family home, two months after being hospitalized with an ongoing health situation.
Jorge Messi had served as his son's long-time agent and business manager throughout his professional career. Following his father's death, the 39-year-old admitted that he was reconsidering how long he would continue playing.
"All I ever did was play football, and now I have a fair few doubts as to whether I'll carry on doing it for much longer," Messi said following his father's passing.
Messi reflected on their close relationship, stating: "You were by my side from the start, we were so close to the end. Why didn't you hang on just that little bit longer so we could finish it together?"
In a personal message to his late father, Messi added: "Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. I can't get my head round it, or rather, I don't want to. It's so hard for me to imagine that I won't see you ever again, that we won't talk anymore. I know you were suffering and that this is for the best, but you left us far too soon. We still had so much left to enjoy together."
Messi recalled his father's desire to see him compete in his final World Cup tournament: "You kept asking me to play in the last World Cup, and it was just days before it started that you took a turn for the worse. It was the first time you weren't going to be at a tournament, but Mum kept telling me you'd get better and that you'd be well enough to travel. I'd tell you that we'd make it to the final so you could travel."
He added: "Every time a match ended, I'd wait for your message and miss it. That's when I realised the situation was really bad."
International retirement and future at Inter Miami
Messi publicly announced his decision to retire from international football on August 31. The announcement came weeks after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium near New York, where Messi's final World Cup appearance ended in tears.
While his 208-cap career with the Argentina national team has concluded, Messi will continue his club career in North America with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
