The eyes of the football world will turn to Buenos Aires on October 6 (today) as Lionel Messi prepares to say goodbye to international football.
Argentina will face Benin at the Monumental Stadium in what will be Messi’s final match for the Albiceleste, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable international career that has delivered a World Cup, two Copa América titles and countless individual records.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward announced his decision to retire from international football in late August, ending more than two decades with the national team.
Now, Argentina are preparing to give their captain the farewell he deserves.
85,000 Fans Ready For Messi’s Goodbye
The demand for Messi’s final international appearance has been enormous.
According to TNT Sports Argentina, all 85,000 tickets for the match were sold within two hours of going on sale, with supporters desperate to witness the final chapter of the career of the player who has given Argentina some of its greatest footballing moments.
For Messi, the night will be about more than just another international appearance.
It will be his 208th and final cap for Argentina, giving him one last opportunity to add to his remarkable tally of 125 senior international goals.
He already leaves the national team as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.
Messi To Wear Special Argentina Shirt
The farewell will also feature a special tribute from Adidas, with Messi set to wear a unique Argentina jersey created specifically for his final appearance.
Messi teased the shirt on Instagram alongside the caption:
“One last match. A jersey for a lifetime.”
The sky blue and white design draws heavily from Argentina’s national colours and features gold detailing celebrating Messi’s contribution to the country.
The “Sun of May”, a historic symbol taken from the Argentine flag and first seen on Argentine coins in the early 1800s, appears on both the front and back of the shirt.
Messi’s personal “M” emblem replaces the Adidas logo on the chest, while his name and famous No. 10 appear in gold.
His name is also included in a sun-shaped stamp on the back of the neck, with his iconic squad number surrounded by laurel branches.
The shirt will be completed by matching white and gold custom boots for what promises to be an unforgettable night in Buenos Aires.
The Teenage Prodigy Who Announced Himself In El Clásico
Messi's journey to becoming one of football's greatest players was already gathering pace when he was still a teenager.
His first career hat-trick came in one of football's biggest fixtures — El Clásico.
On March 10, 2007, at just 19, Messi scored all three of Barcelona's goals in a 3-3 draw against Real Madrid at Camp Nou.
The third was particularly memorable, with Messi beating several defenders before finishing in the final moments of the match.
It was widely regarded as the performance that announced him as a global superstar.
The Getafe Goal That Evoked Maradona
Just over a month later, Messi produced a goal that would become one of the defining moments of his early career.
On April 18, 2007, he picked up possession inside his own half against Getafe in the Copa del Rey semi-final and embarked on a sensational solo run.
He dribbled past around five defenders, rounded the goalkeeper and finished, producing a goal that immediately drew comparisons with Diego Maradona's famous 1986 World Cup goal against England.
The goal remains one of the finest individual efforts of Messi's career.
First Champions League Final Goal Against Manchester United
In 2009, Messi reached another major milestone when Barcelona faced Manchester United in the Champions League final.
Having previously faced questions over whether he could produce against English opposition in Europe, Messi answered them on the biggest stage.
He rose above the United defence to head home Xavi's cross, scoring his first Champions League final goal.
Barcelona won the final, while Messi began another stage of his European domination.
Two years later, he would score again in a Champions League final against Manchester United as Barcelona lifted the trophy once more.
He eventually collected four Champions League winners' medals.
Four Goals Against Arsenal
Messi's scoring exploits reached another level in the 2010 Champions League quarter-finals.
Barcelona defeated Arsenal 4-1 in the second leg, with Messi scoring all four goals.
His third was particularly memorable, as he chipped Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to complete his hat-trick.
Two years later, Messi went even further, scoring five goals against Bayer Leverkusen in a 7-1 Champions League victory.
Breaking Barcelona's Scoring Record
At just 24, Messi became Barcelona's all-time leading goalscorer.
On March 20, 2012, he scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory over Granada.
His first goal equalled César Rodríguez's 60-year-old record of 232 goals.
The second broke it.
The third extended it.
By the time Messi left Barcelona in 2021, he had scored an extraordinary 672 goals for the club; 446 more than anyone else in Barcelona's scoring charts.
The Unbelievable 91-Goal Year
Then came 2012, arguably the most statistically remarkable year of Messi's career.
He scored 91 goals for club and country.
Messi netted 79 times for Barcelona and 12 times for Argentina across 69 matches.
His 91st goal came in Barcelona's 3-1 win over Real Valladolid on December 22.
The achievement earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records and helped him claim his fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or, despite Barcelona winning only the Copa del Rey that year.
Messi Becomes La Liga's All-Time Top Scorer
In November 2014, Messi broke another major record.
He scored a hat-trick in Barcelona's 5-1 victory over Sevilla to become La Liga's all-time leading scorer.
He had equalled Athletic Club legend Telmo Zarra's 251-goal record with a free-kick before breaking it with his second goal and extending the record with his third.
Messi eventually finished with 474 La Liga goals, comfortably ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo's 311 for Real Madrid.
The 500th Barcelona Goal At The Bernabéu
Another iconic moment arrived on April 23, 2017.
Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Messi scoring an injury-time winner.
The goal was his 500th for Barcelona and briefly sent his team top of the table.
His celebration became as famous as the goal itself.
Messi removed his shirt and held it towards the Bernabéu crowd, displaying his name and No. 10 to the home supporters.
The Barcelona Goodbye
The almost unthinkable happened in August 2021.
After 21 years, 672 goals and 35 trophies, Messi left Barcelona on a free transfer after the club was unable to register his new contract because of La Liga's salary restrictions.
At his emotional farewell press conference, a tearful Messi said:
“My family and I were convinced we were going to stay here, at home.”
He added:
“I don't want to leave this club - it's a club I love and this is a moment I didn't expect.”
Despite interest from Manchester City, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain before eventually moving to Inter Miami.
Argentina's First Major Trophy
For years, Messi's international career was judged by one glaring omission: a major senior trophy with Argentina.
That changed in 2021.
On July 11, at the age of 34, Messi won his first senior international trophy as Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 in the Copa América final at the Maracanã.
He was named player of the tournament after scoring four goals.
At the final whistle, an emotional Messi fell to the ground before being lifted into the air by his teammates.
Three years later, Argentina won the Copa América again, giving Messi his second continental title.
The World Cup Finally Arrives
The ultimate prize followed in Qatar in 2022.
Argentina defeated France on penalties after a spectacular 3-3 draw in the World Cup final.
Messi scored twice and converted his penalty in the shootout.
He finished the tournament with seven goals, scoring in every knockout round, and was named the tournament's best player.
The World Cup triumph finally removed the biggest argument used against Messi in GOAT debates.
He had won the one trophy that had eluded him throughout his career.
An Eighth Ballon d'Or
Messi continued collecting individual honours after leaving Barcelona.
He won Ballon d'Or awards while at Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, taking his record total to eight.
His eighth came in October 2023 after his World Cup triumph with Argentina and his role in Inter Miami's first trophy, the Leagues Cup.
At the ceremony, Messi said:
“I couldn't imagine having the career I've had and everything I've achieved, the fortune I've had to be part of the best team in history.”
He added:
“All of them [Ballon d'Or awards] are special for different reasons.”
His Final World Cup And Another Record
The 2026 World Cup was Messi's final appearance on football's biggest stage.
At 39, he helped Argentina reach the final before they suffered defeat against Spain.
His eight goals during the tournament took his World Cup tally to 21, briefly making him the competition's all-time leading scorer before Kylian Mbappé moved ahead with 22 in the bronze medal match.
Even in his final World Cup, Messi added another chapter to an already extraordinary record book.
The Final Chapter With Argentina
Messi's international career was not always the fairytale it is today.
For years, the Barcelona great was criticised for failing to deliver a major trophy with Argentina despite his extraordinary individual achievements.
After the death of his father, Jorge, earlier this year, Messi spoke emotionally about his future in football.
“I don't know how to carry on. I used to just play football, and now I'm really not sure if I'll carry on doing it for much longer.”
He eventually announced his decision to end his international career, writing:
“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply.”
Now, that final chapter has arrived.
Messi goes into his last Argentina appearance with 125 goals in 207 appearances, having won two Copa América titles and the 2022 World Cup.
He also leaves international football as Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, while his combined club-and-country tally stands at more than 900 goals.
One Last Night For No. 10
At 39, Messi's final international game will be about much more than the result against Benin.
It will be a celebration of the teenager who announced himself against Real Madrid, the prodigy who scored a goal reminiscent of Maradona, the Barcelona superstar who shattered record after record, the captain who endured years of heartbreak with Argentina and, ultimately, the player who brought the World Cup back to his country.
The Monumental will be packed with 85,000 supporters who have come for one final glimpse of Argentina's No. 10.
After 21 years, Lionel Messi will wear the Argentina shirt for the last time.
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