Lionel Messi bids farewell to Argentina in historic night against Benin

Lionel Messi has ended his career with the Argentina national team during a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin, in a night filled with emotions, as he wore the sky blue and white jersey for the last time, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his life away from international pitches.

In an emotional atmosphere at the "Monumental" stadium, Messi experienced touching farewell moments, receiving a great tribute from the fans and players of Benin, in a match that held a special significance for the Argentine star who has spent over two decades defending the colors of his country.

Lionel Messi was named Man of the Match once again, contributing significantly throughout the 90 minutes. He assisted the first goal scored by Nicolás Otamendi in the 48th minute, then provided the second goal for Nico Paz in the 61st minute, before scoring the third himself from a penalty in the 71st minute.

The match was paused in the 10th minute as the fans at Estadio Monumental experienced an extraordinary farewell moment for Lionel Messi, with more than 80,000 supporters standing to salute the captain of the number 10 shirt. The stands echoed his name amidst warm applause, while players from both teams participated in honoring the legend during his final appearance in an Argentina shirt.

Lionel Messi's journey with the national team has transformed from years of criticism and pressure into a complete success story, as he led Argentina to glory and lifted major trophies, making his name present alongside the most prominent icons in the history of Argentina.

Lionel Messi left the Argentina shirt in tears, but he did so in a state of peace with himself and his country, after finally managing to enjoy his relationship with the national team and turning years of suffering into one of the greatest stories in football history.

At the end of his international career, Messi leaves a significant void in the Argentina national team, but his legacy will remain present for many years to come, while his story with football at the club level continues, as fans can still enjoy the touches of one of the greatest players to have graced the pitch.

Lionel Messi has played 208 matches for Argentina, scoring 126 goals and providing 70 assists. He has won the FIFA World Cup, the Copa América twice, the Finalissima, as well as the FIFA U-20 World Cup and an Olympic gold medal.