Lionel Messi has retired from international football, making his final appearance for Argentina in a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner scored one goal and provided two assists in the match, bringing his international career to a close with 126 goals in 208 senior caps. His Argentina tenure included one World Cup triumph and two Copa America titles.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has made more international appearances and scored more goals than Messi, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
A fitting farewell in Buenos Aires
Messi chose the Benin friendly as his last match for Argentina, having sat out the previous two friendlies during the international break against Burkina Faso and Bolivia. He received standing ovations from the home crowd, including in the 10th minute, in front of his family.
Messi and his team-mates were reduced to tears as he delivered an emotional farewell speech after the match.
Despite retiring from international duty, Messi has not ended his club career. He remains under contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Inter Miami, where he arrived in the summer of 2023 on a deal initially running until the end of 2025.
Club career continues at Inter Miami
In October 2025, Messi signed a contract extension in Florida valid through the 2028 MLS campaign. Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said in March the deal was worth between €70 million and €80 million.
Messi has won four trophies with the club in the United States so far.
Record-breaking international career
Messi scored Argentina's final goal against Benin from the penalty spot, having earlier assisted Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz. He finished with 126 goals in 208 senior appearances.
He earned 61 more caps than Argentina's second-highest appearance maker, Javier Mascherano, and scored 80 more goals than their second-highest scorer, Gabriel Batistuta, who netted 56 times in 78 caps between 1991 and 2002.
Messi is one of only three Argentine captains to lift the World Cup, alongside Diego Maradona and Daniel Passarella, having achieved the feat in Qatar in 2022.
He will soon be passed by Croatia's Luka Modric (206) for second on the list of most international caps in men's football. Messi trails Cristiano Ronaldo (234) by 26 caps, with Ronaldo having confirmed he is not retiring from Portugal duty. Ronaldo is also the only man to score more international goals than Messi, with 146.
A previous retirement reversed
Messi initially retired from international football after Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final to Chile, missing a penalty in the shootout in what was the team's fourth major final loss.
"For me, the national team is over," Messi said at the time. "I've done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion."
"It's been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over."
"I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, then for everyone."
"I think there's a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it."
"It's very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back."
He reversed that decision less than two months later, returning during qualifying for the 2018 World Cup "for the love of the country".
Trophies with Argentina
Messi earned a further 95 caps over the next decade and scored 71 more goals, ending his wait for international glory with the 2022 World Cup triumph, Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, and the Finalissima success in 2022.
He also guided Argentina to the final of the 2026 World Cup in North America, where Lionel Scaloni's side lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in New Jersey.
As a youngster, Messi won the FIFA World Youth Championship with Argentina in 2005 and a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
