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Messi farewell match: Argentina beat Benin 3-0 as Messi scores in his last game

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The Messi farewell match ended the way Argentina fans had hoped. Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot and set up both of his team’s other goals as Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, the early hours of Wednesday in India. It was the 39-year-old’s 208th and final appearance for his country.

Otamendi and Paz score before Messi’s penalty

The first half finished goalless even though Messi tested the Benin goalkeeper early. Soon after the break, his set-piece delivery found Nicolas Otamendi, who opened the scoring in what was also the veteran defender’s last match for Argentina. Messi then fed 22-year-old Nico Paz, who curled in the second. Paz is widely tipped to inherit the No. 10 shirt.

Messi’s moment came midway through the second half, when Argentina won a penalty. He drove it into the top corner for his 126th senior international goal, extending his national record. He later scuffed a close-range chance and sent a last-minute free-kick over the bar.

Messi farewell match brings tears, fireworks and a giant No. 10 shirt

Roughly 85,000 supporters filled the Monumental. A huge No. 10 jersey carrying the word “Gracias” was displayed before kick-off, and Messi walked out with his three sons as fireworks went off. Both he and coach Lionel Scaloni were visibly emotional during the national anthem. Play was paused in the 10th minute, matching his shirt number, so the crowd and players could applaud him. Benin’s stand-in captain Sessi D’Almeida presented him with a gift before the coin toss.

What Messi leaves behind

Messi announced his international retirement in August, weeks after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final 1-0 to Spain after extra time. With Argentina he won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, and Olympic gold in 2008. He will keep playing club football for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

“Messi leaves behind something unequaled,” Scaloni said before the game. “I’ve never seen anyone else convey what he does on a football field, and that is what we’re going to miss.”

Source: theScore | India Today

Photo: Dibumartinez23 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)

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