MESSI ARGENTINA FAREWELL ENDS WITH 3-0 WIN OVER BENIN
Messi Argentina farewell ended with a goal as Ronaldo sent respect. Argentina beat Benin 3-0 on 6 October in a friendly that became an emotional goodbye for Lionel Messi.
The game was billed as a celebration, and it delivered. Messi scored a penalty, added two assists, and left the pitch after his 126th goal in 208 caps for Argentina. The final score was 3-0 over Benin on 6 October. The moment mattered more than the scoreline.
Messi Argentina farewell was announced before kick off as his final international match on home soil. The stadium was full, with families, kids in number 10 shirts, and banners thanking him. From the first whistle, every touch drew a cheer. Argentina dominated Benin, but the focus was always on Messi.
The first big moment came from the penalty spot. Messi stepped up and converted calmly to make it 1-0. It was his 126th goal in 208 caps, a number that sums up longevity and consistency at the highest level. He then turned provider, setting up two more goals with the kind of passes that defined his Argentina career. One was a slide through the lines, the other a clipped ball over the defence. Argentina finished 3-0 winners.
After the match, Messi spoke about the weight of leaving. His words were, “Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful.” It was short and direct. For a player who has worn the Argentina shirt since 2005, the idea of not returning to the national team camp, not training with the squad, not hearing the anthem, feels heavy. He has said before that Argentina is home, and this farewell brought that feeling out.
Messi Argentina farewell also drew a tribute from his greatest rival. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, sent a public message of respect. His words were, “you’ve made history that will last forever. I have the utmost respect for what you’ve accomplished with Argentina.” It was a rare moment of direct acknowledgement between the two players who have defined football for almost two decades.
The Ronaldo message matters because the Messi Ronaldo story has been told as rivalry. Two Ballon d’Or winners, two record scorers, two leaders of their countries. In recent years, both have spoken more warmly about each other. Ronaldo’s line about history that will last forever captures what Messi achieved with Argentina after years of near misses.
Messi Argentina farewell closes a chapter that includes a Copa America title in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022. Those trophies changed the narrative around him with the national team. Before 2021, he had faced criticism for not winning a senior title with Argentina. Since then, he became a national hero in full, with statues, murals and constant chants of his name.
The game against Benin on 6 October was chosen as a farewell friendly to allow fans to say thank you. Benin provided competitive opposition but the occasion belonged to Argentina and Messi. The 3-0 scoreline reflected Argentina’s control. Messi’s penalty plus two assists meant he was involved in every goal, a fitting way to sign off at home.
His numbers are now final at home. 126 goals in 208 caps. Two assists in his last game on Argentine soil. A penalty scored in front of his own crowd. It is the kind of ending players dream about but rarely get.
Messi Argentina farewell also raises questions about what comes next. Messi still plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. He has not announced retirement from club football. The farewell refers to Argentina, not to football entirely. Argentina will now plan for life after Messi, with younger attackers expected to step up. The national team has talent, but replacing Messi’s influence is not just about goals. It is about leadership, calm under pressure and the ability to change a game with one pass.
For Argentina fans, the pain Messi described will be shared. His words, “Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful,” capture the feeling in the stands. Many fans grew up watching him. Kids who watched his first World Cup in 2006 are now adults. His career has run alongside their lives.
Ronaldo’s tribute added grace to the night.
His words, “you’ve made history that will last forever. I have the utmost respect for what you’ve accomplished with Argentina,”
Both players have pushed each other to higher levels. At 41, Ronaldo is still playing, while Messi has chosen to end his Argentina journey with a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin.
The match itself will be remembered for details. The penalty that opened the scoring. The two assists that sealed the win. The final wave to the crowd. The chants that did not stop after the final whistle. Argentina players formed a guard of honour. Messi hugged staff, teammates and family.
Messi Argentina farewell ends an era that started in a friendly in 2005 and finished with a goal in 2026. From teenager to World Cup winner, from criticism to adulation, his Argentina story is complete at home. The 3-0 over Benin on 6 October, penalty plus two assists, 126th goal in 208 caps, will be the line in the history books. The emotion of his words, “Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful,” and Ronaldo’s respect, “you’ve made history that will last forever. I have the utmost respect for what you’ve accomplished with Argentina,” will be what people remember.
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