Lionel Messi has described his retirement from international football as the “saddest day” of his career.
The Argentina captain made his final appearance for the national team in a 3-0 win over Benin at the Monumental Stadium on Tuesday.
Messi scored one goal and provided two assists in the match. After the final whistle, he stayed on the pitch to thank the fans and his team-mates.
Messi Reflects On 21 Years With Argentina
Messi said it was a great honour to represent Argentina for more than two decades.
“It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this jersey for more than 20 years,” Messi told the crowd.
The forward also spoke about the difficult moments he faced with the national team.
“Even in the worst moments we went through and that I had, I never stopped fighting, never stopped being here,” he said.
Messi admitted that leaving the national team would be painful.
He said he would have loved to continue playing for Argentina for the rest of his life.
“I swear I’d like to play for the rest of my life,” Messi said.
“Playing for the Argentina national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.”
Monumental Farewell
The final game had a special meaning for Messi.
The Monumental was also the venue for Argentina’s first match after their 2022 World Cup triumph.
Messi said returning to the stadium for his final game brought mixed emotions.
“Now I’m here on the saddest day of my career,” he said.
“It is the day I have to say goodbye to the national team and goodbye to all of you.”
Despite the sadness, Messi said he was ready to support the next generation of Argentina players.
He said he would now watch the team from the stands and continue to support his country.
“But now I’ll be on that side, with the fans, supporting all the boys,” he said.
“Always united.”
Messi Has No Regrets
Messi also said he had no regrets about ending his international career at this point.
He pointed to the physical and emotional demands of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
Argentina reached the final but lost to Spain after a difficult tournament.
Messi said the team gave everything during the competition.
“Even though I want to be here all my life, I feel that this is the moment,” he said.
“The last World Cup was too much, everything I had to live through.”
World Cup Took Its Toll
Argentina entered the World Cup hoping to defend their title.
The team reached the final after a tough run through the knockout stages.
Messi said the intense games took a major physical and emotional toll on the players.
He also pointed to Argentina’s semi-final against England as one of the most demanding moments.
“The match against England took a huge toll on us physically,” Messi said.
He added that the emotional pressure was also very high.
Argentina came close to achieving their goal of winning another World Cup.
“We had the dream of fulfilling my dream and the dream of the whole country, of becoming world champions again,” Messi said.
A Legendary Argentina Career
Messi now closes the international chapter of a remarkable career with Argentina.
He helped the country win the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup.
He also became one of the most important players in Argentina’s history.
After 21 years with the national team, Messi leaves with a message of support for the players who will follow him.
His final appearance at the Monumental marked the end of an era for Argentina football.
