Messi scores in final Argentina match as Benin are beaten 3-0 in Buenos Aires farewell

Lionel Messi marked his final appearance for Argentina with a goal and two assists as the world champions beat Benin 3-0 in a friendly at a sold-out Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

Messi, playing his 208th international match, converted a 71st-minute penalty — his 126th goal for Argentina, both national records — to complete the scoring after setting up both earlier goals (USA Today).

The 39-year-old delivered the corner that Nicolás Otamendi headed home in the 48th minute, then played in 22-year-old Nico Paz for the second in the 61st minute. When Giay was fouled in the box, Messi stepped up and buried the penalty to his right — the final goal of the match (USA Today, theScore).

The night was choreographed as a farewell: the match was halted in the 10th minute so roughly 85,000 fans could honour the No. 10, Benin captain Sessi D’Almeida presented Messi with a gift before kickoff, and manager Lionel Scaloni was in tears during the Argentine anthem (theScore).

Messi announced his international retirement in August, weeks after Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. He continues his club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (USA Today, theScore).