Lionel Messi ended his Argentina international career in style as he scored once and provided two assists in the 3-0 victory over Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on October 7. The match marked the 39-year-old’s 208th and final appearance for Argentina after 21 years with the national team.
Messi set up Nicolás Otamendi for the opening goal before assisting Nico Paz for Argentina’s second in the 61st minute. He then converted a penalty in the 71st minute to complete the victory, finishing his international career as Argentina’s most-capped player and record goalscorer with 208 appearances and 126 goals.
More than 85,000 fans watched Messi’s farewell, which also saw him reunite with former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr, who currently manages Benin. Messi leaves international football as a World Cup winner and two-time Copa América champion, having also become the first Argentine player to appear at six different World Cups.
