In bittersweet night, Lionel Messi says goodbye to Argentina’s national team

Lionel Messi, 39, played his final match for Argentina's national team Tuesday night, a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires before 85,000 fans. He scored on a penalty and was visibly emotional afterward, telling the crowd that playing for Argentina had been the most beautiful thing that ever happened to him.

Messi's decision followed Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain three months earlier and the death of his father, who had also served as his close aide. He had already relinquished the team captaincy this week and announced his departure in a public letter.

Over 20 years with the national team, Messi scored 126 goals, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo, and led Argentina to the 2021 Copa America title and the 2022 World Cup championship after years of being compared unfavorably to Diego Maradona by skeptical home fans.

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