Lionel Messi brought his glittering Argentina career to a fitting end with a goal against Benin on an emotional night in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old, playing his 208th and final international game, converted a second-half penalty to register his 126th Argentina goal.
He had earlier provided assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz in a comfortable 3-0 friendly win.
Messi, who announced his international retirement in August, played the full 90 minutes before the 85,000-strong sell-out crowd inside the Monumental were treated to a laser light show, live music and presentations.
He also addressed the crowd with a speech spanning nearly 10 minutes, with some of his team-mates – including Manchester City’s Enzo Fernandez – in tears as Messi admitted he did not want to leave the field.
His career will continue at club level with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, with whom he has a contract that runs to the end of the 2028 season.
On a night of celebrations from start to finish in the Argentine capital, Messi was often seen to be visibly moved by the occasion.
The former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward was filmed wiping away tears on the coach journey to the ground and again appeared overcome by emotion during a rousing rendition of the country’s national anthem.
Before kick-off a spectacular firework display greeted the players on to the pitch, while a giant Argentina shirt – bearing Messi’s iconic number 10 and the word ‘gracias’ (thank you) – was sprawled across the field.
BBC
