Messi Tears Off Last Argentina Cap: 126th Goal in 3-0 Win Over Benin
Lionel Messi retired from international football after a tearful 3-0 win over Benin, scoring his 126th goal and providing two assists.
TL;DR Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football, concluding his 21-year career with a 3-0 victory over Benin in Buenos Aires.
Key Points - Messi scored his 126th international goal from a penalty and assisted two other goals. - The match was paused in the 10th minute for a round of applause for the 39-year-old. - Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in front of 85,000 spectators. - This was Messi's final appearance for the former world champions.
What We Know According to The Guardian Football, citing Reuters, Messi signed off his international career on Tuesday with an emotional farewell in Argentina. The 39-year-old, widely regarded as the greatest player in history, delivered a clinical performance in a friendly against Benin.
Why It Matters This event marks the definitive end to the most celebrated individual era in modern football. It closes a 21-year chapter for the sport's current record holder for international goals and shifts the narrative focus for Argentine football to its post-Messi era.
What Happens Next It is expected that Messi will focus on his club career or transition into a non-playing role, though no official announcement regarding his immediate next steps has been confirmed in the provided facts.
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