Sport · Sri Lanka Bureau
Messi ends Argentina career with emotional farewell goal
Lionel Messi concluded his illustrious international career with a penalty goal in Argentina's final fixture against Benin in Buenos Aires. The 39-year-old's 208th and final cap saw him extend his Argentina goal tally to 126, providing a fitting farewell to two decades of service.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Messi marked his last appearance in an Argentina shirt with a second-half penalty conversion against Benin on Wednesday night, bringing his storied international career to a close in front of home supporters in Buenos Aires. The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who has represented his country since 2004, played a pivotal role in setting up two goals earlier in the match, assisting Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz to establish Argentina's dominance.
The 39-year-old's 126 international goals across 208 appearances represent one of football's most remarkable individual achievements. His career with Argentina culminated in the Copa América triumph last year, delivering the World Cup success that had long eluded him until 2022, when he finally realised his greatest ambition.
Messi's departure marks the end of an era for Argentina's national team, closing a chapter that saw him transform from a teenage prodigy into one of sport's greatest players. The occasion in Buenos Aires provided the emotional setting befitting one of the nation's most celebrated athletes, allowing fans to pay tribute to a career that has defined Argentine football for nearly two decades.