Lionel Messi called it a day on his 21-year international career on Tuesday, bidding farewell to adoring Argentina fans in an emotional final appearance for the former world champions in Buenos Aires.
In a perfectly scripted finale, the 39-year-old, widely regarded as the greatest football player in history, signed off with his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 supporters as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 win over the Benin Republic.
Messi, playing in his record-extending 208th international, also provided the assist for the opening goal scored by veteran Nicolas Otamendi, with Nico Paz also scoring.
But the match was a footnote to the occasion itself, which saw Messi savoring the adulation of the Monumental Stadium crowd one last time for an event which had been billed as ‘The Last Tango’.
“It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this jersey for more than 20 years,” Messi told fans in a post-match address.
“Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful. I swear I’d like to play for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.”
Messi, though, said he had no regrets about his decision to retire, citing Argentina’s grueling World Cup campaign, which took place as his late father was seriously ill, as a factor.
“Even though I want to be here all my life, I feel that this is the moment. The last World Cup was too much, everything I had to live through,” said Messi.
Beforehand, Messi wiped away tears as the bus carrying him and his Argentina teammates made its way through crowds of well-wishers en route to the stadium.
Messi took the field alongside his three children and received affectionate waves from his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, who were watching from a VIP box.
Shortly before kick-off, a giant Argentina jersey bearing the word “Gracias” (Thank You) above the football superstar’s No.10 was laid out on the pitch as the crowd roared their approval.
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