End of an era: Argentina bids Messi farewell in the final nt'l team match
Summary
Lionel Messi bid farewell to Argentina’s national team after 21 years, scoring once and assisting twice in a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires. The emotional sendoff capped a glittering international career that included two Copa América titles, a World Cup and a newly awarded honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires.
Key Points
- Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina, contributing a penalty and two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires.
- Argentina turned the friendly into a national farewell, with more than 85,000 tickets sold out quickly and fans hailing Messi as the “Eternal Captain.”
- The piece recalls Messi’s long and sometimes tense relationship with Argentine fans, later transformed by the 2021 Copa América win and the 2022 World Cup triumph.
- Before the farewell match, Messi received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires.
