Argentine football icon Lionel Messi brought down the curtain on his legendary international career in majestic fashion, delivering a goal and two masterful assists to propel Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Benin in Buenos Aires. Playing before an emotional, sold-out crowd of over eighty thousand supporters at the Estadio Monumental, the 39-year-old maestro signed off after nineteen storied years wearing the iconic blue and white stripes.
Messi set up opening strikes for Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez before scoring a trademark curling free-kick in the seventy-fourth minute that sent the stadium into rapturous applause. The fairy-tale finale sealed a staggering international record of 126 goals and 207 appearances for his nation, a historic tenure highlighted by triumphs at the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Surrounded by his teammates and coaching staff during post-match celebrations on the pitch, Messi addressed the tearful crowd, thanking fans across the globe for their unconditional love and declaring that representing Argentina had been the greatest honor of his life. Tributes from fellow legends, heads of state, and sports icons across the globe flooded social media within minutes of the final whistle.
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Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/article/education/today-news-headlines-for-school-assembly-october-9-2026-anne-carson-wins-nobel-prize-in-literature-for-2026-10912055/