Lionel Messi retires from international football with Argentina

Lionel Messi played his final match for the Argentina national team on October 7, 2026, marking the end of a legendary 21-year international career. In a farewell game against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, which drew over 85,000 spectators, Messi contributed to all three goals in a 3-0 victory, scoring once and providing two assists. Before this "Last Dance," the 39-year-old captain had recorded 207 appearances, 125 goals, and 65 assists for his country.

Throughout his tenure, Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, ending a drought that had lasted since 1986. While his international career has concluded, Messi is expected to continue his club career with Inter Miami until at least 2028. Social media reports, yet to be officially verified, suggest the broadcast of this final match may have reached a record-breaking 3.1 billion views. Throughout his career, Messi notably faced the Greek national team only once, during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where he was marked by Sokratis Papastathopoulos in a 2-0 Argentine win.