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Evening Standard
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Press Association Sport
analysis
Lionel Messi delivered an emotional farewell speech before his final match with Argentina’s national team, where he scored a penalty in a 3-0 victory over Benin. The 39-year-old footballer holds records for most caps (208) and goals (126) for the Argentine national team. His speech touched on gratitude towards his late father and expressed his deep love for representing Argentina, leaving both teammates and fans in tears.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Lionel Messi will play his final match for Argentina on Tuesday, October 10, in a friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. This farewell game is expected to draw around 85,000 spectators and marks the end of Messi's international career after more than two decades during which he scored 125 goals and won one World Cup title, two Copa America trophies, and an Olympic gold medal. Messi will wear a special commemorative shirt designed for this occasion, featuring golden details and symbols like the Sun of May from Argentina’s flag to honor his legacy as the game's greatest player (GOAT). The match kicks off at 8pm local time in Buenos Aires, which is 1am BST on Wednesday, October 11. Premier Sports 2 will broadcast the event in the UK starting at midnight.
Written for “Lionel Messi Farewell Match” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 19 other(s) covering the same event.
The 39-year-old ends his international career with 208 senior caps, the most of any player in the team’s history, with his 126 goals for Argentina also a record.
asserted
goals → end → Argentina
“I feel so many emotions,” Messi, who announced his international retirement following this summer’s World Cup and the death of his father, said in quotes reported by the Argentinean Football Association.
asserted
who → feel → Association
“The first thing I think about is my old man.
asserted
I → think → ?
I can only express my gratitude; it was a tremendous honour to wear this jersey for over 20 years.
asserted
it → express → years
“I never stopped fighting, never stopped giving my all.
asserted
I → stop → all
I swear to you that I’d like to come back for life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most wonderful thing that can happen to you.”
asserted
that → swear → you
After a goalless first half in which Benin threatened not to stick to the script, Otamendi fired home after the visitors failed to clear a Messi corner.
asserted
visitors → threaten → corner
Paz doubled Argentina’s lead from the edge of the area after 61 minutes and inevitably Messi had the last word when Tamimou Ouorou’s clumsy challenge on Agustin Giay resulted in a penalty, which the Inter Miami forward blasted into the top corner.
asserted
forward → double → corner
I swear to you that I’d like to come back for life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most wonderful thing that can happen to you
Lionel Messi
Read More
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said of his captain: “It’s been a dream come true.
asserted
It → swear → captain
I never thought I’d be the coach of the best footballer in history.
asserted
I → think → history
“We are eternally grateful to him for giving us the opportunity to be with him.
asserted
We → give → him
“The tears are because so many things are going through my head.
asserted
things → go → head
Not seeing him anymore will be sad; he leaves us with an incredible legacy.
asserted
he → see → legacy
“The feeling of having him (Messi) on your side is incomparable…
asserted
feeling → have → side
I’ve never seen that aura in anyone else in my life.”
asserted
I → see → life
Brazil forward and Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate Neymar wrote on X: “It’s not just Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you did for football.
“Thank you for making me love football even more, it was an honour to have played against you and even more so to make history by your side.”
asserted
it → write → side
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