Lionel Messi retires from international football after emotional Argentina farewell, 126 goals in 208 caps

Lionel Messi ended his Argentina career in an emotional farewell on Wednesday, playing his final international match in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The 39-year-old, who announced his international retirement in August, converted a second-half penalty and provided two assists in the match that will be his 208th and last cap, making him Argentina's all-time most-capped player and record goalscorer with 126 goals. The result was sealed by an Otamendi strike in the 48th minute, Nicolás Paz's goal six minutes later and Messi's penalty in the 71st. Messi assisted both of Argentina's opening goals, then completed the full 90 minutes in front of a sell-out crowd of around 85,000. The night carried extra weight following the death of Messi's father, Jorge, aged 68, after a long illness in August -- the first time Messi has played for Argentina since the loss. Before kick-off the players were greeted by fireworks and a standing ovation; after full time Messi addressed the crowd in a nearly 10-minute speech as teammates, including Enzo Fernández, were moved to tears. I leave grateful, proud and at peace. Thank you for everything, Messi said. I have nothing left to do but thank this shirt. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni added: The feeling of having him on your side is incomparable. I have never seen that aura in anyone else in my life. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion, finished as Argentina's record scorer. By BBC's figures he is also second-highest in World Cup history with 21 goals, behind Kylian Mbappé's 22, and behind Cristiano Ronaldo in overall internationals. What remains open is Messi's longer-term schedule; he announced retirement in August but his Inter Miami contract runs to the end of the 2028 season. Neymar told him on X: It's not just Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you did for football.