Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career with Argentina after scoring one goal and providing two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires. An audience of 85,000 supporters gathered at the El Monumental stadium to bid farewell to the captain in his final match for the national team.
The tribute honoured a player widely considered the greatest legend in Argentine football alongside Diego Maradona, who died in 2020. Before the match, a promotional video displayed Maradona embracing Messi and telling him that people claimed Messi was better than him. Messi responded in the video that Maradona was and remains the greatest player.
That exchange reflected the mutual reverence between the two iconic figures. Messi had idolised Maradona throughout his youth, despite experiencing a bitter disappointment under his management at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. At age 23, Messi failed to score in five matches before Argentina suffered a 4-0 defeat against Germany in the quarter-finals.
A long path to international success
Messi enjoyed immense success with Spanish club FC Barcelona from the age of 17, but he waited until his 34th birthday to secure his first trophy with the national team. For 17 years he endured painful tournament exits before fulfilling his dream of winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Maradona died seven months before Argentina won the Copa America title in Brazil in 2021. That victory launched an extraordinary run under manager Lionel Scaloni, which ended only when Spain defeated the team in the final of this year's World Cup. At the tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Messi scored eight goals and delivered four assists, including two in a historic semi-final win against England.
Devoted fans and economic hardship
In his final address to the crowd at El Monumental, home to club side River Plate, Messi thanked supporters for standing by the team during difficult periods. Argentina has faced severe economic challenges over the past quarter-century, declaring bankruptcy multiple times. The most recent economic crisis began in 2018 with soaring inflation, recession, and a sharp collapse in the value of the Argentine peso.
Argentine supporters often sought solace in football during times of national hardship. During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, tens of thousands of fans drove thousands of kilometres to Rio de Janeiro for the final against Germany. The city mayor permitted fans to set up camp at the Sambadrome venue, where access to water was difficult and food options were limited. Although most lacked tickets for the final at the Maracana stadium, they gathered to support the team, which lost after extra time.
Messi told the fans in Buenos Aires that their devotion made the squad feel at home wherever they played in the world. He expressed great pride in representing Argentina over his 21-year international career.
Cristiano Ronaldo turmoil in Portugal
While Argentina celebrated Messi, rival star Cristiano Ronaldo faced conflict in Portugal. At age 41, Ronaldo left the national team training camp after publicly accusing manager Jorge Jesus of lying.
In a letter addressed to supporters and teammates, Ronaldo apologized for an uncontrolled emotional outburst. He explained that he intended to retire from the national team following the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, the new national manager and the federation president persuaded him to continue playing.
Ronaldo stated that he felt humiliated during a UEFA Nations League fixture against Norway in Oslo, where Jorge Jesus instructed him to warm up for 45 minutes without bringing him onto the pitch. Both sides are expected to resolve the disagreement so Ronaldo can receive an appropriate farewell.
The two forward icons dominated world football for two decades. Ronaldo completes his international career with 146 goals in 234 matches for Portugal, while Messi finishes with 126 goals in 208 appearances for Argentina.
