Lionel Messi’s last appearance in Albiceleste colours

Argentina’s 3–0 win over Benin at El Monumental mattered for one reason alone: Lionel Messi’s last appearance in Albiceleste colours. Forty years after Victor Hugo Morales cried for Maradona, Argentina cried for Messi, who ended a 20‑year international journey filled with records, trophies and unforgettable moments. Visibly emotional, he wept before, during and after the match, overwhelmed by the magnitude of his farewell.

Against a modest Benin side, Messi departed exactly as he played — decisive and relentless. He assisted Otamendi and Nico Paz before converting a penalty to seal the scoreline, pushing forward until the final whistle as if refusing to let the moment end.

The night was drenched in affection: fans roared his name, he pocketed the referee’s cards as souvenirs, and the Monumental became a theatre of gratitude. What comes next will be debated later. This night belonged entirely to Messi, who now carries his magic back to Miami.