Emotion, tears as Messi retires from Argentina national team

Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina, marking the end of his 21-year international career. The match was a 3-0 victory over Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, attended by 85,000 supporters. Messi, widely regarded as the greatest soccer player in history, scored his 126th international goal in the match.

The occasion was an emotional one, with Messi visibly moved as he took the field alongside his children and received a standing ovation from the crowd. A giant Argentina jersey with "Gracias" (Thank You) above his number 10 was laid out on the pitch before kick-off. The crowd erupted into cheers as Messi's teammates jumped together in celebration.

Messi addressed the fans after the match, expressing his gratitude for the experience and his love for the national team. He stated that it was a difficult moment for him, but he was grateful for the packed stadiums and the support he received throughout his career. According to the New Straits Times, Messi's final appearance was in his record-extending 208th international, where he also provided the assist for the opening goal scored by Nicolas Otamendi, with Nico Paz also scoring.

Brief written by urgent.news from Japan Times, Times of India, Yahoo Sports, France 24, New Straits Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.