Messi bids Argentina farewell after last match
Lionel Messi played his final match for the Argentina national team, scoring a goal and providing two assists in a 3-0 victory over Benin. The event served as a celebratory farewell for the football icon in front of 80,000 fans.
Why it matters
Messi's retirement from international football marks the end of an era for one of the most influential figures in global sports history.
Football Messi gets one last goal & emotional farewell in final match for Argentina Messi gets one last goal & emotional farewell in final match for Argentina Jason Pettigrove Messi celebrates goal in final game with Argentina Gustavo Garello / CTK / AP Argentina eased to a 3-0 friendly victory at the Estadio Monumental against Benin, as Lionel Messi signed off from the national team in style, assisting two goals and scoring one more, on his 208th and final appearance in front of 80,000 adoring fans.
After a delayed start, who else but Messi would have the game’s first shot on target after seven minutes? The match official then stopped the clock at 10’ so that the man of the moment could receive extended applause from the crowd.
Also covering this story
18 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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