Lionel Messi ended his international football career with a fairytale finish, scoring in his final appearance for Argentina in a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin in Buenos Aires.
Record-breaking career comes to a close
The 39-year-old, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, had announced his retirement from international football after Argentina's defeat in the World Cup final. He was invited to take part in the friendly to celebrate his career, with all his team-mates from the triumphant 2022 World Cup squad also invited.
Messi finishes with 208 senior caps, the most of any player in Argentina's history, and his 126 goals for the national team are also a record. He is the only player to have started three World Cup finals.
Otamendi and Paz on target before Messi's penalty
Messi was nearly upstaged by another departing player, 38-year-old centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, who opened the scoring shortly after half-time. Nico Paz added a second goal before Messi had the final word, firing a penalty into the roof of the net with 20 minutes remaining.
Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou denied Messi after seven minutes, while Aiyegun Tosin volleyed wide for the visitors. Messi turned a cross narrowly wide midway through the first half and was off target again in the 33rd minute.
Emotional farewell after late chances
Emi Martinez saved from Junior Olaitan before the break, and three minutes after the interval Otamendi fired home after Benin failed to clear a Messi corner. Dandjinou kept out an Enzo Fernandez header before Paz doubled Argentina's lead from the edge of the area after 61 minutes.
Messi's moment arrived 10 minutes later when Tamimou Ouorou's challenge on Agustin Giay resulted in a penalty, which the Inter Miami forward blasted into the top corner for his 126th and last international goal. Dandjinou denied Leonel Flores late on before Messi bid the crowd an emotional goodbye at full-time.
