# Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/argentine-football-association-commercial-practice-disputes > Updated: 2026-10-08T12:22:19.000Z. Sources: 1187. Developments: 9. Lionel Messi has officially retired from the Argentina national team, concluding a 21-year international career. His final appearance, titled ‘The Last Tango’, took place at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires during a 3-0 victory over Benin. In this farewell match, the 39-year-old recorded one goal—a penalty—and two assists, bringing his career international totals to 126 goals and 208 appearances. The match also served as a farewell for defender Nicolás Otamendi. During the event, Messi shared an emotional moment with goalkeeper Juan Musso, gifting him a signed jersey with a humorous dedication. While the event featured emotional tributes, the post-match celebrations faced criticism due to significant technical and organizational failures. These included the absence of a central stage, power outages during musical performances, and errors with the planned drone show, as well as technical issues with the stadium’s LED screens. A dispute has since emerged between the production company, Marketing Sports, and River Plate regarding responsibility for these shortcomings. Marketing Sports attributed the failures to the stadium, while River Plate issued a statement denying responsibility for the disruptions. In post-match reflections, Messi described the day as “perhaps the saddest of his career” and noted on social media that he already misses wearing the national team jersey. He expressed gratitude to his family, teammates, and the late Diego Maradona. Longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo publicly commended him, stating, “Leo, after all these years that you have defended your country's colors, you have made history that will last forever.” Amid the celebrations, the Benin Football Federation expressed dissatisfaction with match arrangements, citing a lack of revenue sharing, an absence of bonuses, and restrictions on players exchanging jerseys or taking photos with the Argentine squad. Additionally, speculation remains regarding the potential retirement of Messi’s number 10 jersey, though FIFA regulations may present obstacles. ## Claims - Messi has scored 125 goals in 207 matches for Argentina. (disputed by 30 sources) - Lionel Messi scored his 126th goal in his 208th appearance for Argentina. (disputed by 24 sources) - Lionel Messi played his final match for the Argentina national team. (corroborated by 62 sources) - The match took place at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. (corroborated by 51 sources) - Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in a friendly match. (corroborated by 47 sources) - Lionel Messi officially retired from the Argentina national football team. (corroborated by 40 sources) - The match is an international friendly against Benin. (corroborated by 37 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-08: Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team Following Lionel Messi's retirement from the Argentina national team, the football legend gifted RB Leipzig's Brajan Gruda a pair of limited-edition Adidas boots produced to honor his 208 international caps. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lionel-messi-retires-from-argentina-national-team-33 ### 2026-10-08: Lionel Messi retires from international football Lionel Messi has retired from international football after a final appearance for Argentina, earning praise from longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo for his historic career. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lionel-messi-retires-from-international-football-1 ### 2026-10-08: Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after Benin match Lionel Messi retired from the Argentine national team after a 3-0 win against Benin in Buenos Aires, marking his 208th appearance and 126th goal in a match marked by both tribute and logistical issues. 19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lionel-messi-retires-from-argentina-national-football-team-14 ### 2026-10-07: Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after 21 years Lionel Messi has retired from the Argentina national team after 21 years. In his final match, Argentina beat Benin 3-0, with Messi scoring once and providing two assists. 159 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lionel-messi-retires-from-argentina-national-team-24 ### 2026-10-07: Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team Lionel Messi has retired from the Argentina national team following a final appearance in a friendly against Benin, where he scored his 126th international goal. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lionel-messi-retires-from-argentina-national-team-25 ### 2026-10-05: Argentina defeats Burkina Faso 7-0 in international friendly Argentina secured a dominant 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso in a friendly match in Buenos Aires, featuring goals from Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, and others. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-defeats-burkina-faso-7-0-in-international-friendly ### 2026-10-04: Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after final match Lionel Messi retired from the Argentina national team after a 3-0 win against Benin, scoring one goal and providing two assists in his 208th and final international appearance. 1080 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-defeats-burkina-faso-7-0-in-friendly-match ### 2026-10-02: Argentina defeats Burkina Faso 7-0 in international friendly Argentina defeated Burkina Faso 7-0 in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental, featuring goals from Martínez, Prestianni, Paz, and Álvarez, ahead of Lionel Messi’s international retirement match. 154 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/burkina-faso-arrives-in-argentina-for-friendly-against-argentina ### 2026-10-01: Argentine Football Association accused of unfair commercial practices The Argentine Football Association faces accusations from Burkinabé media of maximizing profits from friendly matches by withholding participation fees and revenue from visiting national teams. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentine-football-association-accused-of-unfair-commercial-practices --- Cite as: Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/argentine-football-association-commercial-practice-disputes