Lionel Messi bids farewell to international football in Buenos Aires
Lionel Messi is bidding farewell to international football with a capacity-crowd send-off at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, as Argentina plays a friendly match against Benin.
The 39-year-old forward pulls on the sky blue-and-white jersey for the final time after a career spanning more than two decades. All 85,000 tickets for the fixture sold out in under two hours.
Honors and Tributes Across Global Football
Hours before kickoff at the Monumental Stadium, the University of Buenos Aires awarded Messi an honorary doctorate during a ceremony held at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) headquarters. Outside the building, supporters unfurled a massive national flag bearing his image and the inscription, The joy of my life.
Veteran sports writer Ezequiel Fernández Moores told AFP that the opponent on the pitch holds little significance for the packed stands. The opponent is secondary; this is all going to be a celebration to thank Messi,
he said. Benin defender Mohamed Tijani confirmed that his squad approaches the fixture without defensive apprehension. We have no special plan to defend against Messi, we just want to enjoy the game,
Tijani said.
Tributes poured in from across the international sports community. Paris Saint-Germain, where Messi played from 2021 to 2023, posted a public message on social media marking the occasion: The end of an unforgettable chapter with Argentina.
Enjoy it, Leo.
Former Barcelona teammate Neymar shared a separate tribute on X. It’s not just Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you did for football.
Thank you for making me love football even more,
Neymar wrote.
The Obelisk Illumination and Closing Roster Changes
The city of Buenos Aires scheduled main monuments, including the iconic Obelisk, to light up in light blue for the evening. Messi will wear a commemorative jersey featuring a white stripe down the center and the sun’s rays from the national flag. Several members of the 2022 World Cup winning squad will join the celebration on the pitch, including Ángel di María, who previously retired from international duty.
Coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged the magnitude of the event in his pre-match remarks. It’s going to be an unforgettable day for everyone,
Scaloni said. The fixture also marks the international retirement of vice-captain and defender Nicolas Otamendi. Following the final whistle, the team captain’s armband will pass to Cristian Romero. Scaloni told reporters that the number 10 jersey will be held in reserve. Until Leo’s game, we won’t give the number 10 to anyone. After that, we’ll see,
Scaloni stated.
Looking Ahead at Club Contracts and Unresolved Questions
Messi’s international retirement arrives two and a half months after Argentina lost this year’s World Cup final to Spain. Over 207 international appearances—the most of any player in Argentina’s history—he scored a record 125 goals and provided 68 assists. His tenure yielded one World Cup title, two World Cup runner-up finishes at Brazil 2014 and North America 2026, and Copa America championships in 2021 and 2024.
Following the death of his father, Jorge, two months prior, Messi indicated he might conclude his club career sooner than originally anticipated. When he addressed the media ahead of the Benin fixture, he admitted that keeping his emotions in check would prove difficult on a very special day.
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