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Lionel Messi Prepares for His Final Match for Argentina

The 39-year-old will end a 21-year international career with 125 goals and 207 appearances as Argentina begins life after Messi.

  • On Tuesday, Lionel Messi bids farewell to international soccer in a friendly match against Benin, marking his final appearance for the Albiceleste at Mas Monumental after 207 games.
  • Dubbed 'the last tango' by the Argentine federation, the match represents Messi's 208th appearance, and some 85,000 tickets to Buenos Aires' largest stadium sold out in 90 minutes.
  • Argentines often had an unforgiving relationship with Messi, who left Rosario at 13 for Spain, but the turning point came in 2021 when Argentina beat Brazil to win the Copa for the first time in 28 years.
  • In his farewell video, Messi said "I leave in peace," while teammate Rodrigo De Paul wrote on Instagram that he could not imagine a greater love story between a player and country.
  • Messi will continue playing for Inter Miami, where his contract runs through the 2028 season, while an 85-foot, 70-ton statue of him kneeling with the World Cup trophy has towered over Patagonia motorists since June.
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237 Articles

Lean Right

The Argentine star puts an end to his stage in the albiceleste selection 21 years and 207 games later.

·Guayaquil, Ecuador
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Right

What seemed unimaginable for millions of football fans around the world over decades, is now coming true. Lionel Messi will be playing for the Argentine national football team for the last time. In the home match against Benin (see ticker below) one of the best kickers in the story will have an emotional farewell. A stake in the starting team, in order to get the deserved big farewell applause, is of course required!

·Vienna, Austria
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Lean Left

Tonight, Lionel Messi, 39, will play his last international match for Argentina. One of the greatest national team players of all time is saying goodbye – after over 200 international appearances and 125 goals.

·Stockholm, Sweden
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+7 Reposted by 7 other sources
Center

Argentina bids Messi farewell in final national team match, ending an era

Argentina is preparing an emotional goodbye to Lionel Messi. The soccer great is set to play his final game for the national team on Tuesday. The 39-year-old helped Argentina win a World Cup and two South American championships during his 21-year international career.

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Deccan Chronicle broke the news in Hyderabad, India on Monday, October 5, 2026.
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