El Último Tango: Messi Scores and Assists Twice in Emotional Final Argentina Match, a 3-0 Win Over Benin

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 — BUENOS AIRES — It was always going to be about Lionel Messi. On a night billed as “El Último Tango” — The Last Tango — the 39-year-old played his 208th and final match for Argentina on Tuesday, and he made sure the ending fit the career: two assists and a 71st-minute penalty in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at a sold-out Estadio Monumental. When the final whistle blew, roughly 85,000 people stayed to watch him cry, thank them, and walk off the pitch with his family — closing a 21-year international career that delivered the 2022 World Cup, two Copa Américas, and 126 goals in the light-blue-and-white shirt.

02 A Goal and Two Assists, Because of Course

For 45 minutes, Benin’s stout defensive block held. Then the second half became the Messi show. In the 48th minute, the captain curled in the corner kick that Nicolás Otamendi — himself a 38-year-old veteran playing among the farewell generation — headed home for the opener. Not long after, Messi slipped the pass that freed 22-year-old Como midfielder Nico Paz to curl in a lovely second, the glimpse of Argentina’s future arriving on the night its past took a bow.

The moment everyone had come for arrived in the 71st minute. Argentina drew a penalty, Messi stepped up, and buried his shot to the goalkeeper’s right for 3-0. It was his 126th international goal — extending an Argentina record that may never be touched — and the last goal of the match. The Monumental, which had sung his name all night, erupted one final time for its No. 10.

The numbers from the farewell tell their own story. Per Sportradar’s match data, Messi took 10 shots with five on target and created both of Argentina’s first two goals. He was named Man of the Match — the only award that was never in doubt on a night the result was always secondary.

03 The Farewell

Messi announced his international retirement in August, after carrying Argentina to the final of the 2026 World Cup — four years after he lifted the trophy in 2022 to end the country’s 36-year wait. But the Argentine federation called the 39-year-old up one final time, for a proper send-off in front of his home fans. They billed it “El Último Tango,” and Buenos Aires treated it like a state occasion.

The pre-match ceremony set the tone: Messi’s three sons walked out with their father as the Monumental sang. In the stands were his mother and his wife; on the sidelines, fellow legends Ángel Di María and Sergio Agüero watched on. Goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez was called into action more than once to keep Benin from spoiling the party, while young teammates like Rodrigo De Paul and Julián Álvarez spent the night trying to set up the No. 10 — the old guard and the new, all working for the same man.

After the match came the part no scoreline could contain. An emotional Messi addressed the adoring crowd, touching on his retirement decision and a 21-year career with the national team. “I can only thank you all. It has been a huge pride to defend this shirt for over 20 years,” he said, in remarks reported by the Argentine Football Association. “Playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing,” he added — “the most wonderful thing that can happen to you,” in The Times’ translation. Teammates including Manchester City’s Enzo Fernández were in tears as Messi admitted he did not want to leave the pitch: “I don’t want to leave this place. I don’t want to leave the field. I love all of you, and I will miss all of you.”

04 What He Leaves Behind

The honors of the night went beyond the 90 minutes. Following his tearful speech, Messi — flanked by his teammates — walked off the pitch with his family, and Argentina put on a show in the sky: a spectacular drone display above the Monumental recreating Messi holding the World Cup and his iconic shirt, captured in footage shared by TNT Sports that spread across social media overnight.

He leaves the international game as Argentina’s record scorer with 126 goals and its record appearance-maker with 208 caps, per The Times and theScore — 21 years, two Copa Américas (2021, 2024), the 2022 World Cup, and 69 assists. While the 39-year-old continues to play at a high level with Inter Miami — he is expected back in action Saturday, when Miami hosts D.C. United — he has decided the national team belongs to a new generation now.

“I’m proud to be Argentinian. I’m proud to have completed the dream,” he told the crowd. Then, the line that will follow this night everywhere: “Goodbye to all of you. I’m going to miss defending the national team’s colours, but now I’ll be right there alongside you, supporting these guys and everyone who comes after them. Always, always united.”