Thanks Messi! …The best of all said goodbye to the “Albiceleste”

On this unforgettable night, football is enveloped in sadness, nostalgia, resignation and passionate recognition.

All the feelings that his magical left foot unleashes when he caresses the ball come to the surface and embrace the heart of the fan of the Argentine team who saw how his great idol played his final match.

The greatest footballer on the planet, the one who shattered records, the one who monopolized titles and the one who gave us so much joy said goodbye.

He scored his last goal, gave his last assist and danced his “last tango” dressed in the sacred colors of his country.

The anecdotal victory over the Benin team (3-0) decorated the departure of the beloved GOAT… Thank you so much Leo! Your football legacy will always be remembered.

endless legend

Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Benin, Lionel Messi’s penalty goal, his assists for two more and a total of 126 goals scored in 21 years of history with his national team filled a day at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires that began with emotion and ended with tears.

Argentina had to wait until the second half to defeat a tough African rival, who only succumbed after the blows delivered by Nicolás Otamedi (m.48) after an assist from Messi after a corner, Nico Paz’s great goal (m.61) from a pass from the Rosario star and finally his goal from a strong penalty kick (m.70).

The long-awaited match, followed by some 85,000 spectators in the stands and millions more around the world via television, was marked by the warm-up of Argentina with the focus on Lionel Messi who, upon entering, greeted the four stands.

Then at the entrance of the Argentine team, the 39-year-old captain was accompanied by his three sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, he had his first moment of almost tears in the anthem, while a flag in the shape of a shirt with “Thank you Messi” occupied a large part of the venue.

In the match, Messi was active in his favorite area, from the left to the center of the field. Two luxury assists to Lautaro Martínez and Agustín Giay found goalkeeper Marcel Dandijnou with good responses, as did a free kick from Leo himself that the African goalkeeper controlled.

Midway through the match, Messi received a pass into the void from his friend and Inter Miami teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, and his advance to Dandijnou went just wide, while a tight corner kick also found a good response from the Benin footballer.

The visit had its options to surprise and take the lead but an error in definition by Aiyegun Tosin and two interventions by local goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez left the score at zero for the break.

In the second half, Argentina struck quickly in the 51st minute with a corner kick served by Messi that Nicolás Otamendi connected with his foot to become his farewell to the Argentina team.

The second goal came with an assist from Messi for an exquisite definition by the newly introduced Nico Paz in the 61st minute that left goalkeeper Dandijinou without reaction. Great goal in pure Messi style.

Then a penalty marked for an infraction in the visiting area led to the goal of the great honoree of the night who took the ball and defined with a touch to the left of the African goalkeeper for his 126th shout with his nation’s jersey… the last.

Thus, victorious and exciting, the Messi era in the Argentina team ended.

This is how they aligned

– ⁠Argentina (3): Emiliano Martínez; Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero (Giovani Lo Celso, 79′), Nicolás Otamendi (Lisandro Martínez, 51′), Nicolás Tagliafico (Facundo Medina, 51′); Rodrigo De Paul (Nicolás González, 58′), Alexis Mac Allister (Franco Mastantuono, 79′), Enzo Fernández (Exequiel Palacios, 79′); Lionel Messi; Julián Álvarez (Nicolás Paz, 58′), Lautaro Martínez (Leonel Flores, 79′).

– Selector: Lionel Scaloni.

– ⁠Benin (0): Marcel Dandjinou (Saturnin Allagbé, 76′); Liam Omore, Yohan Roche (Amiro Amadou, 91′), Mohamed Tijani, Tamimou Ouorou (Charlemagne Azongnitode, 76′); Yamirou Ouorou (Matteo Ahlinvi, , 63′), Sessi D’Almeida, Imourane Hassane (Sahid Ngobi, 91′), Junior Olaitan (Jodel Dossou, 76′), Rodolfo Aloko (Attidjikou Samadou, 91′); Aiyegun Tosin (Junior Olugbade, 63′).

– Selector: Gernot Rohr.

– Goals: 1-0 m.48: Otamendi. 2-0, m.61: Peace. 3-0, m.70: Messi, penalty.

– Referee: The Chilean Fernando Vejar admonished Otamendi and Tijani.

– Incidents: Friendly match on FIFA date played at the Antonio Vespucio Liberti Monumental Stadium, in Buenos Aires.

(With EFE report)