Messi pays tribute to Maradona, father after final Argentina game
Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona and his late father following his final game for Argentina, a 3-0 victory over Benin where he scored a penalty. Read More: https://punchng.com/messi-pays-tribute-to-maradona-father-after-final-argentina-game/
Lionel Messi honored Argentina legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, in an Instagram post after his final appearance for the national team. Messi described his international career as an "incredible journey" filled with happiness and difficult moments, expressing confidence that he was making the right decision.
He paid tribute to Maradona, crediting him for putting Argentina on the world stage, and remembered his father, who passed away on August 8, 2026, after battling a long illness. Messi shared a photo of himself wearing the Argentina shirt, looking upward, and wrote, "You don’t know how much we missed you last night…" His on-field farewell after the Benin match included emotional tributes to his family, friends, teammates, coaches, and Argentina's supporters.
Messi, 39, scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in a match that marked the end of his 21-year international career, becoming the country's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.
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