Lionel Messi has played his last game for Argentina, and he scored in it. Messi hit his 126th and final international goal and set up two others as Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in Buenos Aires. Argentina played the friendly on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026.
Messi teared up as the Argentine anthem played, and fireworks lit up the Estadio Monumental. The stadium also displayed a giant No. 10 shirt with the word “Gracias” on it.
It was a farewell with a twist. Messi had already announced his retirement from the national team on Aug. 31, ending 21 years of international duty. His previous match was the 2026 World Cup final, which Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time. This friendly gave the home crowd the goodbye the final never did.
Messi’s Tribute
The tribute began before kick-off, when Messi walked out with his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. Before the coin toss, the Benin captain gave him a sculpture and a letter.
The first half stayed goalless. Messi tried a shot from the edge of the box in the seventh minute, but the Benin goalkeeper saved it.
The second half changed that. Nicolás Otamendi scored after Benin failed to clear a Messi corner, and Nico Paz made it 2-0 from the edge of the area after 61 minutes.
Messi then scored the third from the penalty spot, sending the ball into the top corner. He kept chasing another goal until the end, but his last free-kick went over the bar.
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Key Details
| Detail | Info |
| Match | Argentina 3-0 Benin (international friendly) |
| Date | Oct. 6, 2026 |
| Venue | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires |
| Scorers | Otamendi, Paz, Messi (penalty) |
| Messi’s night | One goal and two assists |
Other farewells happened on the same night:
- Otamendi was also playing his last match for Argentina.
- Ángel Di María, who retired after the last Copa América, attended in a non-playing role.
Legacy & Triumph
Few players have meant as much to one national team. Messi finished with 207 appearances and 125 goals before this match, and he won the 2022 World Cup, two Copa América titles and the 2022 Finalissima.
His road there was rough. He lost the 2014 World Cup final and briefly retired after the 2016 Copa América final. He came back and ended Argentina’s long trophy drought.
Official Statements
Messi’s own words were simple. He described playing for Argentina as “the most wonderful thing that can happen to you.” Coach Lionel Scaloni said that coaching him had felt like a dream come true.
Argentina now enters the first era in two decades without Messi. This part is analysis, not confirmed fact. The team keeps a young core, and Paz’s goal showed some of that. Messi’s club career is not over. He is expected to keep playing for Inter Miami.
Messi’s Argentina story had setbacks, a brief exit, and a late run of trophies. A penalty in the top corner, with his sons nearby and the stadium chanting his name, is a fitting last scene.
