Messi Scores, Tears Flow in Final Game for Argentina

The greatest soccer player in history hung up his Argentina jersey Tuesday night, and an entire nation stood to say thank you.

Lionel Messi scored his 126th international goal in his final appearance for Argentina, leading his team to a 3-0 victory over Benin in front of 85,000 adoring fans at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium. The 39-year-old played his record 208th game for his country in a farewell dubbed "The Last Tango."

The emotion started before kickoff. Messi wiped away tears as his team bus made its way through crowds of wellwishers on the way to the stadium. His three children walked onto the field with him while his wife and mother watched from a VIP box.

A giant Argentina jersey spelling out "Gracias" (Thank You) covered the pitch before the match. The crowd stopped play in the 10th minute for a standing ovation honoring Messi's famous number 10 jersey.

Messi set up the opening goal for teammate Nicolas Otamendi before scoring from the penalty spot in the 71st minute. At the final whistle, drones lit up the night sky with his image, celebrating the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's extraordinary career.

The Ripple Effect

Before the match, the University of Buenos Aires awarded Messi an honorary doctorate. "To be able to say that I am an honorary doctor!" he joked, mentioning his past regret about not studying more.

Fans outside the football headquarters unfurled a massive Argentine flag with Messi's image and the words "The joy of my life." Former teammate Neymar posted on social media: "It's not just Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you did for football."

The farewell came two and a half months after Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain, when Messi left the field in tears. "I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give," he wrote afterward, adding that young players deserve their chance.

During his international career, Messi led Argentina to one World Cup championship in 2022, ending a 36-year drought, plus two Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024. The team also finished as World Cup runners-up twice.

Fan Cecilia Adriano, 52, captured the national mood perfectly: "I believe Messi gave everything, absolutely everything. He has more than earned it, let him enjoy himself, let him rest."

Messi continues playing for Inter Miami through 2028, though he hinted he might retire from all soccer sooner following his father's recent death.

A legend walked off the field for the last time, leaving behind a legacy of joy, triumph, and a World Cup trophy his nation had waited decades to win.