"The Match That Caused the Decision" and "The Saddest Night of My Career".. Highlights of What Messi Said on Argentina's Farewell Night

The Argentine star Lionel Messi said that his retirement from international football was "the saddest day of his career," after he concluded his journey with the Argentine national team with an impressive performance; he scored a penalty in the 71st minute and assisted goals for both Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz, contributing to a 3-0 victory over Benin. This marked the culmination of a brilliant international career that spanned over two decades, during which Messi played 208 matches for the Argentine national team and scored 126 goals since his debut in 2005.

Messi has long struggled in his quest for success with the national team on the international stage, but his fortunes changed under the leadership of Lionel Scaloni; Argentina won the "Copa America" titles in 2021 and 2024, the "Finalissima" in 2022, and of course the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. However, Messi has now put an end to his career, and he told his adoring fans - on an emotional night in the Argentine capital - that making this decision was a bitter thing to accept.

Messi said: "It has been a great source of pride for me to defend this shirt for over 20 years." He added: "Even in the worst moments we went through and I experienced, I never stopped fighting, and I never stopped being here."

The Argentine legend continued: "It will be extremely painful to stop coming. I swear I would like to play for the rest of my life; because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to a person."

Leo added: "Here I am on the saddest day of my professional career; it is the day I have to say goodbye to the national team, and to all of you." He continued: "But now I will be on that side [with the fans], supporting all the players, and everyone who joins the team."

Messi bid farewell to the scene in his usual style, as he made the first and second goals and then added a third goal from a penalty kick. Some of Messi's teammates were clearly moved after the match, as the curtain came down on an exceptional era.

Messi referred to that World Cup semi-final confrontation against England as the decisive moment in his decision to retire. Messi added: "Although I want to stay here all my life, I feel that this is the right moment. The last World Cup was a very heavy experience, given everything I went through."

“The flea” continued: “We had a dream to achieve my dream and the dream of the entire country: to become world champions again.” He continued: “In the last World Cup, we were very close, and the reality is that nothing strange happened, as people say,” and he added: “The match against England drained us physically tremendously, and it also had a very great emotional impact.”

Messi added: “We achieved just enough, and we fought as we always used to while wearing this shirt, and with all my teammates with whom I shared moments; not only them, but also those who were with us in the times when we won.