The 39-year-old captain will close a 21-year international career against Benin in Buenos Aires, bringing one of football’s greatest national-team chapters to an end.
Lionel Messi is set to make his final international appearance for Argentina when the world champions face Benin in a friendly on Wednesday at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium.The 39-year-old forward will bid farewell to the national team at River Plate's home, with the match scheduled to kick off at 2 a.m.The Monumental, South America’s largest stadium with a capacity of around 85,000, will provide the setting for the final chapter of Messi’s Argentina career.A perfect record at the MonumentalThe stadium has been a particularly productive venue for Messi, where he has scored more goals for Argentina than at any other ground in the country.He has made 28 appearances at the Monumental, winning 22 and drawing six without suffering a defeat while scoring 19 goals.Messi scored his first goal at the stadium against Uruguay in a 2008 World Cup qualifier and later recorded hat-tricks against Bolivia in 2021 and 2024.21 years, six international trophiesMessi’s retirement from international football will close a 21-year career filled with records and major titles.He holds Argentina’s record for appearances with 207 matches and has scored 125 international goals, making him South America’s all-time leading scorer.His six international trophies include the 2022 FIFA World Cup, two Copa America titles, the Finalissima, Olympic gold and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.Final World Cup ends with a recordMessi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and helped the team reach the final again at the 2026 tournament, his sixth and final World Cup.Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in the final, with Messi scoring eight goals during the tournament.He also holds the record for the most World Cup appearances, with 34 matches across six editions from 2006 through 2026.Messi recorded 23 wins, five draws and six defeats in those tournaments and scored seven goals during Argentina’s 2022 title run.His eight goals in 2026 took his World Cup total to 21, leaving him second on the competition’s all-time scoring list behind France’s Kylian Mbappe, who has 22.
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