Messi speaks of 'painful' retirement after Argentina farewell
BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi signed off from international football on Tuesday, telling Argentina fans retirement from the national team was “deeply painful.”
Lionel Messi has retired from international football, bringing an end to his 21-year career with Argentina. His final game was a 3-0 win over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, where he scored a goal and provided two assists.
Messi, who is 39, expressed his gratitude to the fans and said that not playing for Argentina again would be "deeply painful". He will continue to play club football for Inter Miami. The Argentine Football Association had arranged the Benin fixture as a send-off for Messi on home soil.
Messi's final international game was attended by around 85,000 fans, who witnessed him score his 126th international goal.
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