The moment no one wanted to come: Messi's emotional farewell night with the national team

Lionel Messi bid farewell to the Argentina national team in an emotional evening at the Monumental Stadium, with tears during the national anthem, a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Benin, and a farewell speech in front of 85,000 fans.

Lionel Messi bid farewell to the Argentina national team in an emotional evening at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Even before the opening whistle, Messi struggled to hold back tears during the national anthem, standing alongside his three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. The match itself ended in a 3-0 victory over Benin, with Messi assisting Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz, and scoring himself from the penalty spot for his 126th goal for the national team. At the end, a light and pyrotechnics show was held, and Messi delivered a moving farewell speech in which he thanked the fans, his teammates, and his family, and mentioned his father Jorge, who passed away recently. His son Thiago burst into tears and came to hug him on the pitch. Messi concluded an international career of 21 years, 208 appearances, and 126 goals, including winning the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 and 2024 Copa América.