Lionel Messi Ends 21-Year Argentina Career With Monumental Send-Off

Lionel Messi brought his international career to a close on Wednesday, playing his final match for Argentina in a friendly against Benin at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. The occasion marked the end of a 21-year run with the national side for the World Cup-winning captain.

Some 85,000 supporters packed the stands to witness the send-off, turning the friendly into something far greater than a routine fixture. Messi, widely regarded as one of the finest footballers to have played the game, leaves international football having led Argentina to a World Cup title and Copa America honours.

The match against Benin served less as a competitive test and more as a formal farewell, with the crowd's reception reflecting the scale of Messi's standing in Argentine culture and sporting history.