Lionel Messi delivered one last master class in blue and white on Tuesday as Argentina\u2019s captain brought the curtain down on his extraordinary 21-year international career by scoring one goal and setting up \u200btwo others in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin.<\/strong><\/p>\n The 39-year-old\u2019s final bow in front of more than \u200c85,000 fans at a packed Monumental stadium was less about football and more a national celebration of Lionel Messi\u2019s service to the national team.<\/p>\n Landmarks across the capital glowed with the team\u2019s sky blue and white colours, while fireworks lit up the skies above the heaving stadium \u200bas fans poured their hearts into a rendition of Argentina\u2019s national anthem.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to talk,\u201d said Lionel Messi, \u200bwhose family watched proudly from the stands alongside some of Argentina\u2019s World Cup winners of \u20601978, 1986 and 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of emotions, a lot of things going through my head. The first \u200bthing I think about is my old man,\u201d he added, referring to the recent death of his father.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a \u200bhuge source of pride for me to wear this shirt all this time, more than 20 years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cNot coming anymore is going to hurt a lot. I swear, I\u2019d love to keep coming my whole life, because playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing that \u200bcan happen to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hours earlier, a massive No. 10 shirt emblazoned with \u201cGracias\u201d was unfurled at the National Flag Memorial \u200bin Rosario, Messi\u2019s hometown. When \u2060the teams took the pitch, Benin\u2019s captain looked lost for words as he handed Messi a gift and letter during the pre-match handshake.<\/p>\n After a goalless first half, Messi supplied the assist for Nicolas Otamendi to tap home Argentina\u2019s opener. Otamendi shared 17 years with Messi in the national team, including four World Cups, and was also ending his international \u200bcareer.<\/p>\n Lionel Messi then set up Nico \u200bPaz, one of the \u2060players seen as a potential successor for Argentina\u2019s No. 10 shirt, to score the second goal.<\/p>\n In a fairytale ending, Messi converted a penalty for 3-0, his 126th international goal, prompting \u200banother round of \u201cMessi, Messi\u201d chants from the crowd.<\/p>\n At the final whistle, teammates, opponents and \u200bthe referee gathered \u2060around Messi for embraces before a drone show lit up the sky. Argentine singer Soledad Pastorutti, known as \u201cLa Sole\u201d, then sang her signature \u201cBrindis\u201d as part of a tribute to Messi and his journey with the national team.<\/p>\n Lionel Messi leaves as the country\u2019s \u2060most-capped player (208) \u200band record scorer having transformed years of frustration on the international \u200bstage into a story of World Cup and Copa America triumphs.<\/p>\n For years, Argentina asked Messi to deliver. On Tuesday, it simply came to say \u2018Thank You\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\u2018GRACIAS\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n
As the team bus travelled from the training centre bearing his name, Messi wiped away tears as thousands lined \u200cthe route.<\/p>\n![\"Messi](\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/resizer\/v2\/MTDYCYKDVVKMVOI3ED3DTOMLXI.jpg?auth=df7b2fd2dd0a25857b3dcddfdc224e825d65acc580e9de359cd29cd8620ac7b9&width=1080&quality=80\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"International](\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/resizer\/v2\/G2SXXPHJCJJXJGKLY3DVG2SO3I.jpg?auth=ee1faca8fb7991eb42fce4ad8a7571d9417f36de91848f2c34fc850c40c8ea29&width=1080&quality=80\" "\\"\\"")
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