Messi caps 21‑year Argentina run with goal, assist in 3‑0 win over Benin

Lionel Messi closed his 21‑year spell with Argentina on Tuesday night, scoring a penalty and providing an assist in a 3‑0 friendly win over Benin in Buenos Aires. The win marked the final appearance for the 39‑year‑old, who finished with 126 goals in 207 matches, the second‑most in men’s international football behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s 146. Messi also raised his assist tally to 66, the all‑time record for international matches. His honours include an Olympic gold medal in 2008, the 2022 FIFA World Cup title, Copa America crowns in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima. At the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina were runners‑up, he logged eight goals and four assists, bringing his World Cup total to 21, second only to Kylian Mbappe. Messi made his debut on 17 August 2005 against Hungary, a match that ended after 90 seconds when he received a red card. He scored his first international goal against Croatia in a friendly and recorded his first hat‑trick versus Switzerland in 2012, later adding ten more to hold the joint‑record for most hat‑tricks. Over his career he appeared in six World Cups, tying the record with Ronaldo.

Context

Finishing as the second‑highest scorer highlights how Messi’s numbers sit just behind Ronaldo’s long‑standing record, while his assist record shows his play‑making role grew as his career progressed.