Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina on Tuesday night against Benin, marking the end of his international career with 126 goals in 208 appearances. Despite retiring from the national team, Messi remains active at club level, signed through the 2028 MLS season with Inter Miami, where he recently extended his contract worth between €70 million and €80 million. The article focuses on the emotional farewell to Messi's international career while clarifying that his retirement is specific to Argentina’s national team rather than club football.
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.
It was a fitting end to an astonishing international career that finished with 126 goals in 208 senior caps and included one World Cup triumph and two Copa America crowns.
asserted
that → finish → triumph
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has made more international appearances and scored more goals than Messi, who will go down as arguably the greatest footballer ever to step foot on the pitch.
Has Lionel Messi retired?
asserted
Messi → make → pitch
Messi did not play in Argentina’s previous two friendlies during this extended three-week international break, against Burkina Faso and Bolivia, instead choosing the Benin game as his last for his country.
asserted
Messi → play → country
He received standing ovations from an adoring home crowd - including in the 10th minute of the match - in front of his family and Messi and his team-mates were reduced to tears as he delivered an emotional farewell speech.
asserted
he → receive → speech
However, Messi has not yet hung up his boots at club level.
asserted
Messi → hang → level
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar remains contracted to Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Inter Miami, where he arrived in the summer of 2023 on a deal that initially ran until the end of 2025.
asserted
that → contract → 2025
In October 2025, he signed a lucrative contract extension in Florida that is valid through the 2028 MLS campaign, which Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said in March was worth between €70million and €80million.
asserted
Mas → sign → 70million
So don’t worry Messi fans, there should be plenty more highlights to come for your idol yet as he looks to add to the four trophies he has won in the United States so far.
asserted
he → worry → States
How many goals has Lionel Messi scored?
asserted
Messi → score → goals
Messi, after providing two earlier assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz, scored Argentina’s final goal against Benin from the penalty spot, meaning he finished for Argentina with an astonishing record of 126 goals in 208 senior appearances.
asserted
he → provide → appearances
That is 61 caps more than Argentina’s second-highest appearance maker of all time, Javier Mascherano, and 80 more goals than their second-highest scorer, Gabriel Batistuta, who netted 56 times in 78 caps between 1991-2002.
asserted
who → net → 1991
Having finally completed his quest for World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, Messi is one of only three Argentine captains ever to lift the biggest prize in football - along with his idol Diego Maradona and Daniel Passarella.
asserted
Messi → complete → idol
Read More
He will soon be passed by Croatian legend Luka Modric (206) for second on the list of most international caps ever in men’s football, and trails Cristiano Ronaldo (234) by 26, with his great rival having now confirmed that he is not retiring from Portugal duty despite his high-profile walkout last week.
Ronaldo is also the only man to score more international goals than Messi, with 146.
asserted
Ronaldo → read → 146
Has Lionel Messi retired before?
asserted
Messi → retire → ?
Messi initially retired from international football after Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final to Chile.
asserted
Argentina → retire → Chile
He missed a penalty in the shootout in what was the Albiceleste’s fourth major final loss
"For me, the national team is over," Messi said at the time.
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Messi → miss → time
"I've done all I can.
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I → do → all
It hurts not to be a champion.
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It → hurt → ?
"It's been four finals, I tried.
asserted
I → try → ?
It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over.
"
asserted
it → want → it
I think this is best for everyone.
asserted
this → think → everyone
“I think there's a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.
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we → think → it
“It's very hard, but the decision is taken.
asserted
decision → take → ?
Now I will not try more and there will be no going back."
asserted
I → try → ?
However, Messi reversed that decision less than two months later as he returned during qualifying for the 2018 World Cup “for the love of the country”.
asserted
he → reverse → country
What trophies did Lionel Messi win with Argentina?
asserted
Messi → win → Argentina
Messi went on to earn a further 95 caps during the next decade and scored 71 more goals, ending his wait for international glory with the 2022 World Cup triumph and Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, plus the Finalissima success in 2022.
asserted
Messi → go → 2022
Messi also guided Argentina to the final of the 2026 World Cup in North America earlier this summer, where Lionel Scaloni’s side lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in a controversial showdown in New Jersey.
asserted
side → guide → Jersey
As a prodigious youngster, Messi won the FIFA World Youth Championship with Argentina in 2005 and a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
asserted
Messi → win → Beijing
The Aporia
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