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Lionel Messi's last game for Argentina: Pregame tears, a giant flying jersey and 1 final international goal

Messi scored or assisted on each of Argentina's 3 goals in a fitting coda to his international career.

Lionel Messi played his final game for Argentina on Tuesday, marking an emotional farewell as the soccer legend bid adieu to his national team. The friendly match between Argentina and Benin at Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental turned into a celebration of Messi's career, with fans gathering in large numbers to honor the superstar.

Prior to the game, a giant replica of Messi's No. 10 jersey was flown over the city of Rosario, paying tribute to the Argentine icon. Upon arriving at the stadium, Messi was seen in tears by fans, visibly emotional as he boarded the team bus. Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was filled with emotion as the national anthem played, followed by fireworks and a massive replica of Messi's jersey being hoisted onto the field.

Messi's contributions to Argentina's goals were numerous, with two assists and the final goal in a 3-0 win, showcasing why he is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.

Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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