Lionel Messi played his last match for Argentina on 6 October 2026, a 3–0 friendly win over Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. He set up the first two goals and scored the third from the penalty spot. The Argentine federation called the occasion "the last tango". It was his 208th appearance for his country, 21 years after his first.

The Match

The goals came in the second half, and Messi was involved in all three:

  • 48': Nicolás Otamendi scored from a Messi corner. Otamendi was a teammate in the 2022 World Cup-winning side.
  • 61': Nicolás Paz scored from a Messi pass.
  • About 71': Messi scored a left-footed penalty, his 126th goal for Argentina.

More than 85,000 tickets sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale. Players from Argentina's 1978, 1986 and 2022 World Cup-winning squads came back for the night. A banner at midfield called him the "Eternal Captain". At the final whistle his teammates gathered round to applaud him, and he took a last lap of the pitch.

Why He Stepped Away Now

Messi announced his retirement from the national team on 31 August, six weeks after Argentina lost the World Cup final 1–0 to Spain after extra time. According to NBC News, he wrote his farewell message on 21 July, two days after the final. His father, Jorge, died on 8 August, and Messi said the loss reinforced his decision. In his message he also pointed to the young players coming through, saying they deserved their chance.

This is not the first time he has retired from international football. In 2016, after losing a Copa América final, he said he was finished with the national team and then changed his mind. This time the farewell match makes the decision feel final.

The International Career in Numbers

  • 208 matches and 126 goals, both Argentina records.
  • 1 World Cup (2022) and 2 Copa América titles.
  • 6 World Cups played, from 2006 to 2026, with 21 World Cup goals, second on the all-time list behind Kylian Mbappé.
  • 3 World Cup finals: lost in 2014 and 2026, won in 2022.

What Comes Next

Messi is not retiring from football. He continues at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where his contract runs to the end of the 2028 season. For Argentina, the job now is to build a team that no longer revolves around him. After two decades in which the national team's plans started with Messi, that will be the biggest change the team has faced in a generation.

Our Read

Few great players get to choose their ending. Messi lost a World Cup final in his last tournament and still got the farewell most players can only imagine. He was involved in every goal, in front of a full Monumental, with three generations of world champions watching. He finished his Argentina career as he played most of it, making the decisive passes as well as scoring.

For the full story of his World Cup career, read our feature on Messi's road to glory in 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Messi's last match for Argentina?

6 October 2026, a 3–0 friendly win over Benin in Buenos Aires.

How many goals did Messi score for Argentina?

126, in 208 matches.

Is Messi still playing football?

Yes. He plays for Inter Miami in MLS, with a contract running through 2028.

Key Takeaways

  • Messi's last Argentina match was a 3–0 win over Benin; he scored a penalty and set up the other two goals.
  • He ends with 126 goals in 208 matches over 21 years, both national records.
  • He announced his retirement on 31 August, six weeks after losing the World Cup final to Spain.
  • He continues his club career at Inter Miami.

Match facts are from the sources below. The "Our Read" section is analysis.