Lionel Messi has described his retirement from international football as the “saddest day” of his career after bringing his 21-year Argentina journey to an emotional end.
Messi captained Argentina in his final appearance for the national team on Tuesday as the World Cup holders defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old delivered a memorable farewell performance, scoring from the penalty spot and providing two assists as Argentina celebrated his final game in front of more than 85,000 supporters.
After the final whistle, Messi addressed the packed stadium and reflected on what representing Argentina had meant to him throughout his career.
The Inter Miami forward said wearing the Argentina shirt for more than two decades had been an enormous source of pride, while admitting that no longer being part of the national team would be painful.
Messi said he would have preferred to continue playing for Argentina for the rest of his life but felt the time had arrived to step away.
The farewell at the Monumental carried particular significance for the Argentine captain. The stadium was filled with tributes from supporters, teammates and former World Cup winners as the country celebrated the player who eventually led Argentina to Copa América and World Cup glory.
Messi leaves international football as Argentina’s most-capped player, having made 208 appearances, while his 126 goals make him the country’s all-time leading scorer. He also won two Copa América titles and the 2022 World Cup during his international career.
The decision follows Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final, where they lost to Spain. Messi said the physical and emotional demands of that tournament played a major role in convincing him that this was the appropriate moment to end his international career.
Despite the sadness surrounding his departure, Messi said he had no regrets about the timing of his decision.
His final appearance also marked the end of an era for Argentina, with defender Nicolás Otamendi also concluding his international career during the farewell match.
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Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami, but his 21-year chapter with Argentina has now officially come to an end.