[REVISION HISTORY]

Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team

Updated 144 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-09 17:54 UTC → 2026-10-10 01:49 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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