Lionel Messi has played his last match for Argentina. The 39-year-old captain, who announced his international retirement on 31 August, signed off with a penalty and two assists in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night, in front of 85,000 fans.
The decision covers the national team only. Messi's club career continues with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where his contract runs to the end of the 2028 season.
What Messi announced
Messi confirmed the decision in an Instagram post on 31 August, sharing a handwritten notebook entry in Spanish. "After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the Argentina national team," he wrote.
He described it as a decision that "hurt" but said "the time has come". "I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team," he added. "I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some really great young players coming through behind me who deserve their chance."
A footnote explained the timing. Messi said he wrote the message on 21 July, two days after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain, and added: "Today, after what happened with my dad, I'm even more convinced than before." His father, Jorge, died in August aged 68 after a long illness.
Addressing supporters, he wrote: "Thank you for all the love over the past 20 years. I'm going to miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I'll be just one of you, always cheering and supporting from the sidelines."
A farewell night in Buenos Aires
Messi played the full 90 minutes against Benin, scoring from the penalty spot and setting up two goals. After the final whistle the sell-out crowd was treated to a laser light show, live music and presentations, before Messi addressed the stadium in a speech lasting nearly 10 minutes. Several team-mates, including Enzo Fernandez, were in tears as he admitted he did not want to leave the field.
A career in numbers
Messi's international career spanned 21 years. He leaves Argentina with 126 goals, the 2022 World Cup and two Copa America titles, and he is an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.
This is not the first time he has stepped away. Messi retired from international football in 2016, after Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years, but reversed the decision and went on to lead the country to its Copa America and World Cup triumphs. This time the farewell match has been played and the door appears closed.
What happens next
Argentina now begin life without their captain, with a new generation that Messi himself said "deserve their chance". Spain, who beat Argentina in the summer's World Cup final, continue their own campaign in the Nations League, as seen in their 3-1 win over Czechia.
For Messi, attention turns back to Inter Miami and MLS. Elsewhere this international window, another long-serving captain reached a milestone as Harry Kane won his 125th England cap.