Messi ends Argentina career with penalty and two assists in 3‑0 win over Benin

The 39‑year‑old forward capped his 21‑year tenure with a goal and two assists as Argentina beat Benin 3‑0 at the Monumental Stadium.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 07:08:07 GMT

Argentina bid farewell to Lionel Messi on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, when the veteran forward scored a penalty and set up both of his teammates' goals in a 3‑0 friendly victory over Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, according to both the New York Post and the Associated Press.

What happened

The match, played in front of a capacity crowd at the 85,000‑seat stadium, saw Messi convert a spot‑kick in the first half and later deliver the decisive passes for the second and third goals, giving Argentina a clean‑sheet win. The final score was 3‑0, with the Argentine side dominating the encounter.

What the reports add

The New York Post noted that the friendly, originally expected to be a low‑key affair, turned into a national moment as fans watched Messi’s last appearance, and it highlighted a quote from a 17‑year‑old fan, Valentino Ruso, who said the end of an era felt “sad” for the country. The Associated Press emphasized the “deafening final ovation” from the crowd and described the performance as a “gala” that underscored Messi’s two‑decade impact on Argentine football.

What was said

Valentino Ruso, a 17‑year‑old fan, told the New York Post, “It feels like an era is ending… I’m sad. I think everyone is upset today. He will be missed.” The Associated Press reported that the stadium audience offered a “deafening final ovation” to Messi as he took his penalty and provided the assists.

How it came about

Earlier coverage by Felo News explained that coach Lionel Scaloni had arranged Messi’s farewell match against Benin in Buenos Aires after the forward announced his retirement in August (Felo, Sep 24). Hours before the game, Messi received an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires (Felo, Oct 1). The match also proceeded despite AS Roma’s decision to block fellow Argentine Paulo Dybala from traveling to the event (Felo, Sep 30).

Key facts

Messi scored a penalty and provided two assists in Argentina's 3‑0 win over Benin (nypost.com)
The match took place on Oct. 6, 2026 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires (winnipegfreepress.com)
Fans gave a deafening ovation as Messi retired from international football (winnipegfreepress.com)