Lionel Messi’s 21-year international career with Argentina came to a close on Wednesday with a friendly against Benin dubbed as "The Last Tango”.
What unfolded at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Wednesday morning was something that football lovers around the world would not want to see arrive, but all things—even the greatest—must come to an end. Lionel Messi’s 21-year international career with Argentina came to a close on Wednesday with a friendly against Benin dubbed "The Last Tango". He didn’t disappoint his fans in his last game with La Albiceleste either, helping his team win 3-0 with a goal and two assists. The sold-out crowd chanted "Messi, Messi" after he scored, well aware that they were not just watching a football match but witnessing history—the end of an era. It marked Messi’s 126th goal for his country in 208 appearances, a record that won’t be easy to break. It also marked his final goal wearing the La Albiceleste shirt. It was quite an emotional farewell.
During his career spanning over two decades with Argentina, Messi evolved from an 18-year-old promising footballer into a legendary global icon, receiving both praise and criticism. Despite critics unfairly smearing him with the narrative that he was not meant to perform on the biggest stage—the FIFA World Cup—he proved them wrong by letting his legs do the talking. He won one World Cup in 2022 and reached the final on two other occasions during his six outings. He also won two Copa América titles in seven appearances, among other titles. His performance for clubs is equally impressive, scoring 672 goals and providing 303 assists for FC Barcelona alone in 778 appearances, which helped the Catalan side lift 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. He also holds the record for winning eight Ballon d'Or awards. All in all, he has accumulated more than 900 goals in over 1,000 appearances for the club and country. He has nothing left to prove in the sport.
However, Messi’s journey was not as rosy as it appears from the outset. He was the embodiment of pressure. The fact that he announced his retirement from international football in 2016 following Argentina’s loss to Chile in the Copa América final, only to reverse his decision later, reflected the emotional toll of defeat and unrealistic expectations. He was expected to deliver every time. He could not lose. It was never easy to be him. What sets him apart is his ability to rise to the occasion and deliver when his team needs him most. He defied his age in the recent FIFA World Cup, dominating the statistical charts at 39 with eight goals and four assists. While debates about whether he is the greatest footballer of all time will continue, no one can deny his indelible mark on the world of football. Football will forever be indebted to him for his immense contributions to the sport. His retirement will leave the game poorer. And perhaps the world will never see another player like Lionel Messi, as Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni put it.