Lionel Messi Ends International Career with Emotional Argentina Farewell

Lionel Messi retired from the international football on October 6, 2026, as Argentina beat the Benin 3–0 in an international friendly at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. In his last game for the country, the 39-year-old scored from the penalty spot and gave two assists in his 208th game for Argentina. His international career spanned more than two decades and featured in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, winning two Copa América titles and the 2022 Finalissima. Messi became the most capped player for Argentina in international football and the top scorer.

Messi’s Last Match for Argentina

The last time Messi played for Argentina was during the match against Benin held in Buenos Aires. He made an assist for Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz before he scored the third goal for Argentina in a penalty shot.

It was also Otamendi’s last appearance for Argentina because the defender earned 140 caps. Otamendi’s goodbye ceremony on the grounds of the Monumental stadium saw Messi being paid homage in a big way, where he got one minute of applause in the 10th minute of the game.

He ended his career with 208 appearances and 126 goals. Messi’s last goal made him remain the top scorer for Argentina in the national team. His career with the senior national team began when he debuted in 2005.

Messi’s Major International Titles

The most successful period of Messi’s international career occurred after he was close to winning trophies in various tournaments for many years.

Argentina won the Copa América in 2021 when they beat Brazil in the final in the Maracanã. This was the first time that Messi won a senior international title with Argentina.

Following this, Messi contributed to winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by beating France on penalties after drawing 3-3 in the final. Messi scored two goals in the final and won the Golden Ball.

Then, Argentina won the 2024 Copa América, thus bringing a second Copa América trophy to Messi. In addition, they won the 2022 Finalissima, where they beat the European champions Italy in Wembley.

Major international titles for Messi, thus, include the 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2021 and 2024 Copa América, and the 2022 Finalissima.

Messi’s FIFA World Cup Records

Messi played in the six World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026.

After 2026, Messi became the most experienced player in FIFA World Cup history, setting a record of 34 games.

Messi scored 21 goals in World Cups, making him the second-most goal-scorer in World Cups history after Kylian Mbappé.

He is the only player in history to have participated in three men’s World Cup finals in 2014, 2022, and 2026. Cafu from Brazil is the only other player who took part in three men’s World Cup finals.

Messi also set a record for playing in six World Cups for Argentina. He won the runner-up position in 2014 and was the champion in 2022 in Qatar.

International Heartbreaks to World Cup Glory

Initially, there were many heartbreaks in Messi’s career with the national team. Argentina had been defeated in the Copa América finals in 2007, 2015, and 2016, as well as by Germany in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Following the loss in the 2016 Copa América final against Chile, Messi temporarily retired from international play. He changed his mind later and played for Argentina further.

The situation changed for the better in 2021 when Argentina won the Copa América. This victory was followed by the Finalissima in 2022 and then the World Cup in Qatar the same year.

Arguably, the World Cup victory was particularly important since it resolved one of the longest-standing controversies regarding Messi’s international career. The last time when Argentina won the men’s World Cup was in 1986, which happened under the leadership of Diego Maradona.

Lionel Scaloni and the Era of Success in Argentina

Lionel Scaloni played an important part in Argentina’s success during the last years of Messi’s career with the national team.

Scaloni became the senior coach of Argentina’s squad after the 2018 World Cup and later led the team to victories at the 2021 Copa America, 2022 Finalissima, 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2024 Copa America tournaments.

This strategy enabled Messi to focus on his attacking abilities while other players did their job in defense and physically. It helped make Argentina one of the most successful squads in international football of that era.

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup and it was the third time for the country to win the World Cup after 1978 and 1986.