Lionel Messi quit Argentina after 21 years, with 126 goals, the last of which was of great penalty at 70 minutes of a 3-0 victory against Benin in Buenos Aires.
© Reuters
07/10/2026
by
Lusa
O85,000 spectators present at the Monumental Stadium celebrated on Tuesday the captain's 126th goal as if it guaranteed a world title.
At the end of the game, the Argentine football idol stressed the “enormous pride” for wearing the albiceleste sweater “for more than 20 years”.
“ It was a huge pride for me to defend this shirt”, said number 10. “I have nothing but thanks (...). Not coming back will be a great pity”, added the world champion of 2022, who says goodbye to the selection at 39.
At 70 minutes, Messi breathed deep, took impulse and, from the penalti mark, fired a powerful left-foot shot, which entered the pole on the left side of Benin's goalkeeper, Marcel Dandjinou.
Before the goal, which sealed the victory against a very tough African team, Messi had opportunities to score at 06, 23, 26 and 32 minutes.
At the beginning of the second part (48th minute), the advance charged a corner that flew unopposed to the center of the small area of Dandjinou and, without dropping the ball, with a dry touch, came the central defense Nicolás Otamendi to score the 1-0.
The 39-year-old star pass served a 38-year-old companion, who also said goodbye on Tuesday to the Argentine national team in his 140th game.
At 61 minutes, the young talent Nico Paz emerged to score the second goal from outside the area with a shot in effect, of impossible defense.
After the final whistle, referee Fernando Véjar offered the cards to number ten.
The remaining players of both selections lined up to greet him and all looked up to the sky to see the show of lights created by drones, who designed the figure of Messi and the sweater that he had worn since the Argentina premiere in 2005.