Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina on Tuesday, marking the end of an extraordinary 21-year international career. The legendary forward will don the iconic sky blue-and-white jersey one last time at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental, a fitting stage for his farewell, with more than 85,000 fans expected in attendance and millions more watching from home.
Now 39 years old and Argentina’s most-capped player, Messi leaves the international scene just over two months after a heartbreaking World Cup final defeat to Spain. In his retirement announcement, Messi wrote, “I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance.”
Messi’s final training session with the national team took place at the Ezeiza complex—now bearing his name—with devoted fans gathering for a glimpse of their hero. Even as he remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, Messi has hinted that he may retire from club football sooner than expected, especially in the wake of his father’s recent passing.
Celebrating a Legend
Argentina has pulled out all the stops to honor Messi’s legacy. Many of his World Cup-winning teammates—including Cristian “Cuti” Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, and Lautaro Martinez—will join him on the field for his final match against Benin. After the game, Romero will inherit the captain’s armband.
Coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged the daunting task of filling the void left by Messi, but recent results suggest a promising future. In their first matches without Messi, Argentina impressed with a 4-0 win over Bolivia and a 7-0 triumph against Burkina Faso, where rising stars Franco Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni notched their first international goals.
Messi’s Record-Breaking Impact
Messi’s achievements for Argentina are staggering:
207 appearances (most in Argentine history)
125 goals (record scorer)
68 assists (all-time leader)
Winner of the 2022 World Cup, 2005 World Youth Championship, 2008 Olympic gold, 2021 and 2024 Copa America, and the 2022 Finalissima
His journey included moments of heartbreak, such as the 2014 World Cup final loss to Germany and the infamous Copa America defeat to Chile in 2016, but he ultimately delivered the global title that had eluded Argentina for decades.
The Number 10 Question
One question lingers: who will inherit Messi’s revered number 10 jersey? Coach Scaloni has stated that no one will wear it until after Messi’s final game—a testament to its significance.
As Messi prepares for his last dance with Argentina, a grateful nation and the football world will be watching, celebrating the career of a true icon whose magic may never be seen again.
