Lionel Messi scored on his last appearance for Argentina as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner helped his side to a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin in Buenos Aires. The 39-year-old announced his retirement from international football after defeat in the World Cup final, but was invited to take part in the match to celebrate his career.
A record-breaking international career
Messi ends his international career with 208 senior caps, the most in Argentina's history, and 126 goals, also a national record. He is the only player to have started three World Cup finals. All of his team-mates from Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad were invited to the fixture.
Messi was close to being 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 before Messi had the final word, firing a penalty into the roof of the net with 20 minutes remaining.
Match action and emotional farewell
Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou denied Messi after seven minutes, and the visitors almost took a shock lead when Aiyegun Tosin volleyed wide. Messi turned a cross narrowly wide midway through the first half and was off target again in the 33rd minute.
Emi Martinez denied 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 came 10 minutes later when Tamimou Ouorou's clumsy 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.
