Lionel Messi scored on his last appearance for Argentina as the team beat Benin 3-0 in a friendly in Buenos Aires. The 39-year-old, who announced his retirement from international football after defeat in the World Cup final, was invited to play in the match to celebrate his career, with all his team-mates from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad also invited.
Record-breaking career ends
Messi ends his international career with 208 senior caps, the most of any player in Argentina’s history, and a record 126 goals for the national team. He is also the only player to have started three World Cup finals.
Another departing Argentina player, 38-year-old centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, opened the scoring shortly after half-time, with Nico Paz adding a second goal. Messi had the final word, firing a penalty into the roof of the net with 20 minutes remaining to sign off in style.
Match action
Messi was denied by Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou after seven minutes before 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.
Emotional farewell
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.
