Messi Bids Farewell to Argentina in Tears

Lionel Messi closed the curtain on his international career two days ago, bidding an emotional farewell to his adoring Argentine fans in a final appearance wearing the shirt of the former world champions in Buenos Aires. The ending seemed scripted in advance: the 39-year-old player, widely regarded as the greatest footballer in history, concluded his career with his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 spectators, scoring the third from a penalty in the 70th minute of the friendly match against Benin (3-0).

Messi played his 208th international match, further cementing his record, and also provided the assist for the opening goal, scored by veteran Nicolás Otamendi (48), who was also playing his final international game. Nico Paz added the second goal (60). However, the match itself was a minor detail compared to the occasion, as Messi enjoyed the cheers and admiration of the Monumental Stadium crowd for the last time in an event dubbed “The Last Tango.”

Speaking to the fans after the match, Messi said, “It was a great source of pride for me to defend this shirt for more than 20 years.” He added, “Not coming back here again will be extremely painful. I swear I would have liked to play for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to anyone.”

Nevertheless, Messi affirmed that he does not regret his decision to retire, noting that Argentina’s arduous journey in the World Cup, which coincided with his late father’s battle with a serious illness, was among the factors that led him to make this decision. He said, “Although I wish I could stay here for the rest of my life, I feel this is the right time. The last World Cup was more than I could bear, and everything I had to go through during it.”

Before the match, Messi shed tears as the bus carrying him and his teammates made its way through crowds of fans gathered to greet them on their way to the stadium. Messi entered the pitch accompanied by his three children, receiving warm greetings from his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, and his mother, Celia Cociotti, who watched the match from the VIP box.

Shortly before kickoff, a giant jersey of the Argentine national team bearing the word “Thank You” above the number 10, the number of the football star, was laid out on the pitch floor, amid thunderous cheers from the crowd. Messi shed tears again when Fabio Santana, a veteran of the Falklands War, sang the national anthem alongside a banner that read “Malvinas are Argentine,” the same phrase raised by the players after their 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup quarter-finals in North America this summer.