'The Last Tango'... Messi scores, assists, and cries on his final night with the Argentina national team
Argentine star Lionel Messi closed the curtain on his international career early Wednesday, leading his national team to a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin in a friendly match played before a massive crowd, marking Messi’s final appearance in an Argentina jersey.
The 39-year-old Messi concluded his international career with his 126th goal for Argentina, scoring from a penalty kick in the 70th minute of his 208th international match, further cementing his record. He also assisted the first goal, scored by veteran Nicolas Otamendi in the 48th minute, and Nico Paz added the second goal in the 60th minute.
The match served as a farewell to Messi, whose international career spanned more than two decades and was marked by numerous achievements, celebrated by a huge crowd at the Monumental Stadium in an event dubbed “The Last Tango.”
Messi told the fans after the match: “It was a great source of pride for me to wear this shirt for more than 20 years,” adding that not returning to the stadium again would be extremely painful, and emphasizing that playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to anyone.
Messi confirmed he has no regrets about his decision to retire from international football, noting that Argentina’s difficult journey in the World Cup, coinciding with his late father’s struggle with a serious illness, were among the factors that led him to make the decision.
Before the match, Messi shed tears as the team bus arrived at the stadium amid crowds of fans. He entered the pitch accompanied by his three children, while his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and his mother Celia Cuccittini watched from the VIP box.
Before kickoff, a giant Argentina jersey bearing the word “Thank You” above the number 10 was laid out on the pitch, amid loud cheers from the spectators. The match was paused in the 10th minute, in tribute to Messi’s famous number, and the crowd stood for a full minute to applaud him.
Messi shed tears again during the national anthem, before capping his farewell night by scoring the third goal from a penalty kick in the 70th minute, concluding his international career in an emotional scene before the Argentine fans.
