Messi signs off with goal, two assists as Argentina beat Benin 3-0
In front of more than 85,000 supporters, Messi delivered one final masterclass in the famous blue and white shirt before saying goodbye to the Argentina national team after 21 years of international football The post Messi signs off with goal, two assists as Argentina beat Benin 3-0 appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria .
Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin. The match, dubbed "The Last Tango", was attended by a sold-out crowd of 85,000 supporters at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. According to The Citizen, Messi contributed to all three goals, scoring his 126th international goal and providing assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz.
Messi, who is widely regarded as the greatest football player in history, ended his 21-year international career with a record-extending 208 appearances. In a post-match address, he expressed his pride in defending the Argentina jersey for over 20 years, but admitted that not coming back will be "deeply painful". As reported by The Citizen and New Straits Times, Messi said he would love to play for the rest of his life, but feels that this is the right moment to retire, citing Argentina's grueling World Cup campaign as a factor.
Messi promised to continue supporting the Argentina national team, saying "I am going to miss all of you so much, but I will always be on your side" as per Daily Post Nigeria. His final match was an emotional occasion, with fans chanting his name and singing to him throughout the game.
Brief written by urgent.news from Premium Times, The Citizen, New Straits Times, Daily Post Nigeria, Ajel English — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
