Messi beat the goalkeeper from the penalty spot with his left foot in the 71st minute of Argentina’s 3-0 win over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. It was his 126th international goal, and his last.
The penalty, slotted into the top corner, closed a near-complete farewell shift. In the 48th minute, Nicolás Otamendi had headed Messi’s corner into the net to open the scoring. Thirteen minutes later, a pass from the captain released Nico Paz for the second.
Both of the figures Messi leaves behind, 208 appearances and 126 goals, are Argentina records. The 39-year-old played every minute of the match.
A 10th-minute ovation and a shirt that said Gracias
The night’s choreography turned on his shirt number. Ten minutes into the match, play was halted for a standing ovation from the 85,000 inside the Monumental, Indian outlet Outlook reported. A giant Argentina No. 10 jersey carrying the word “Gracias” was unfurled across the pitch while the crowd chanted his name.
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Tickets had sold out within two hours of release, Yahoo Sports reported before kick-off.
Scaloni in tears before kick-off
Head coach Lionel Scaloni was seen wiping away tears during the national anthem. The three-friendly window had been framed by his staff as an opportunity to prepare the squad for the post-Messi era, according to Yahoo Sports.
Hours before kick-off, Messi had shared a farewell video released by Adidas.
“The day we never wanted to come has arrived. It is the saddest day of our lives. I leave in peace, I gave everything I could. This shirt was my dream, my pride and my life. Thank you for your great love for me, I will miss you.”
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After the final whistle, Messi addressed the stadium directly.
“It was a source of great pride to wear this jersey for over 20 years. I never stopped fighting, never stopped giving my all,” he said, in remarks carried by the Associated Press.
He thanked his father first and his team-mates after.
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