Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football after a remarkable career, concluding his tenure with a final match and a heartfelt farewell. His departure signifies the end of an era for Argentine football, leaving behind an indelible legacy as one of the sport's greatest players, celebrated by fans and peers alike for his unparalleled achievements and contributions to the game.

Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football after a remarkable career, concluding his tenure with a final match and a heartfelt farewell. His departure signifies the end of an era for Argentine football, leaving behind an indelible legacy as one of the sport's greatest players, celebrated by fans and peers alike for his unparalleled achievements and contributions to the game.

Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football after a remarkable career, concluding his tenure with a final match and a heartfelt farewell. His departure signifies the end of an era for Argentine football, leaving behind an indelible legacy as one of the sport's greatest players, celebrated by fans and peers alike for his unparalleled achievements and contributions to the game.

The curtain has fallen on a glorious era that redefined Argentine football, as Lionel Messi retired from international football after guiding the team to a 3–0 victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Messi took complete control of the game after a goalless first half, scoring a penalty and providing two assists.

From former and current teammates to tearful fans outside the stadium, tributes poured in for the football legend, widely regarded as Argentina’s most influential player of the past two decades.

“I wish I could play for Argentina all my life,” Messi said after the match. “It might be the saddest day of my life and career. I will miss you a lot—the colours of the national team. I’ll be supporting these kids, these boys, all my life. We’ll always be united.”

Messi said that he and his teammates had fought all their lives and had never doubted that they always gave everything for the shirt. He thanked his teammates for the time he had spent with them and said that they had made his dream come true.

“You helped me win the World Cup, the Copa America, and other tournaments. We played with pride and competed against everybody. I knew I was surrounded by warriors,” Messi said.

Messi said that they had to stay united to achieve their highest objectives, adding that there were people who did not want to see the national team succeed.

“We need to stay united. We have been an extraordinary group, and that is why we won all that we won. I don’t want to leave this place, this field. I love you, and I will miss you, and I am proud of being an Argentinian,” an emotional Messi said.

The Argentina great leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, including the 2022 World Cup title, two other World Cup final appearances (2014 and 2026), two Copa America titles (2021 and 2024), an Olympic gold medal (2008), and 125 goals as the national team’s all-time leading scorer.

Brazilian star Neymar, Messi’s former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain teammate and longtime friend, said the whole world should be grateful for what the Argentine had given to the sport.

“It’s not only Argentina that thanks you; the world thanks you for everything you have done for football,” Neymar wrote on Instagram.

The 39-year-old football icon had announced his international retirement in the weeks following the World Cup final loss to Spain, saying, “The time has come.”

The Argentine Football Association, however, persuaded him to make one final appearance for “the farewell he deserves”.

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