Messi Scores in Argentina Farewell as Benin Lose 3-0
Lionel Messi ended his Argentina career with a goal in Tuesday’s 3-0 friendly victory over Benin, converting a penalty in his final international appearance at the age of 39.
Why Messi’s farewell carried added weight
| Match detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Argentina v Benin, friendly |
| Final score | Argentina 3-0 Benin |
| Messi’s contribution | Penalty goal |
| International retirement age | 39 |
| Major Argentina honours | Two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup |
The occasion closed an Argentina career in which Messi became the defining figure of his generation for the national side. He reached three World Cup finals, lifted two Copa America trophies and captained the team to the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
For Benin, however, the final whistle brought disappointment as well as the significance of facing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Head coach Gernot Rohr said his players were prevented from approaching Argentina’s squad after the match, leaving them unable to exchange shirts or take photographs with Messi.
Rohr said his players made repeated attempts to meet their opponents but were turned away by security around Argentina’s dressing-room area. Benin’s players had brought shirts in the hope of arranging swaps, yet none were completed, while the squad were also unable to access the Argentina player corridor.
The Benin coach accepted that sharing the field with Messi had been a special experience for his group, but believed they deserved greater recognition after the fixture. Rohr eventually waited more than 30 minutes to approach the Argentina camp himself.
His only successful contact came when Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni signed an older Messi shirt that Rohr had brought with him. It was the sole piece of memorabilia secured by the Benin delegation following Messi’s final match for his country.
