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Lionel Messi broke down in tears during Argentina’s national anthem as he made his final appearance for the national team in a farewell friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old Argentina captain struggled to hold back his emotions as more than 85,000 fans gave him an emotional send-off at the stadium.
He had also been seen wiping away tears while travelling to the venue ahead of the match.
Messi entered the pitch accompanied by his children, with a giant No. 10 shirt bearing the word “Gracias” displayed on the field as a tribute to the legendary forward.
The farewell marked the end of Messi’s more than two-decade international career. He became Argentina’s record goalscorer and most-capped player, while leading the country to Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024 and the 2022 World Cup.
The emotional night was made even more memorable as Messi scored and provided two assists in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Benin.
