Messi's last tango: Argentina's greatest bows out after 21 years

Lionel Messi, 39, the greatest footballer in history, scored once and set up two more goals in his final international appearance Wednesday, bringing down the curtain on 21 years in the Argentina shirt. Inside and outside the stadium, tributes poured in for the man who wore No. 10 for a generation.

Messi started and played the full 90 minutes as Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in a friendly at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Wednesday (Korean Standard Time). He assisted goals by Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz in the second half before converting a penalty to seal the result himself.

It was Messi's 208th and final cap — his international debut having come in August 2005. He had previously announced his retirement from the national team after a Copa America final defeat in 2016, only to reverse that decision, then declared his retirement again in August following Argentina's runner-up finish at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. FIFA's official tally stood at 125 goals in 207 caps heading into the match; with one goal Wednesday, he finished his international career with 126 goals in 208 appearances.

The farewell match was, fittingly, a stage built for Messi. In the 10th minute — a nod to his squad number — the referee briefly halted play as more than 85,000 fans rose to their feet and gave him a standing ovation lasting about a minute. Messi turned to the stands and acknowledged the crowd. After the final whistle, players from both Argentina and Benin embraced him, and a drone display above the pitch traced the outline of his jersey.

Messi's international journey was not always paved with glory. He finished runner-up at the 2007 Copa America, the 2014 World Cup, and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America tournaments. The 2016 Copa America final defeat hit hardest — it was after that loss that he first announced his retirement from the national team.

But Messi came back and silenced every doubt. He won his first major senior international trophy at the 2021 Copa America, then added the Finalissima in 2022 before lifting the World Cup in Qatar later that year. In 2024, he claimed back-to-back Copa America titles. At this year's World Cup he contributed eight goals and four assists, carrying Argentina to the final, but they fell to Spain 1-0 after extra time to finish as runners-up.

Tributes from the football world followed. Neymar, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, posted on social media: "It's not just Argentina that thanks you. The whole world thanks you for everything you've done for football. Thank you for making me love the game even more."

Angel Di Maria, who spent years alongside Messi in the Argentina squad, made his way to Estadio Monumental to watch the farewell match in person. Di Maria, who shared in the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup triumphs with Messi, was there to witness his longtime teammate's final exit from international football.

Long-time sponsor Adidas also marked the occasion in style. The company produced a special farewell kit inspired by the Argentine flag, featuring gold detailing and Messi's personal logo. Adidas also unified the profile images across its major global, regional and sport-specific social media accounts with a photo of Messi in the Argentina jersey, marking the last chapter of No. 10.

From the moment he first pulled on the Argentina shirt in 2005, through countless setbacks, one reversed retirement and, finally, a World Cup triumph — Messi closed out his 21-year journey the only way he knows how, with a hand in all three goals on his final night.