Messi bids farewell with goal as Argentina beats Benin 3-0
In short
Lionel Messi played his farewell match for Argentina, a 3-0 win over Benin. He scored a penalty in the 71st minute and provided two assists, according to TASS and Kommersant. Kommersant reported that defender Nicolás Otamendi also ended his international career in the match.
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Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina, a 3-0 victory over Benin, according to reports from RIA Novosti, RBC, Kommersant and TASS. The match was reported on 7 October. TASS, an official outlet, said Argentina beat Benin 3-0. RBC reported that it was the last match of Messi's career for the national team. RBC had first reported on 6 October that the farewell match was scheduled for the night of 7 October against Benin. The reports came from a mix of Russian business outlets, RBC and Kommersant, and official outlets, RIA Novosti and TASS. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Messi scored a penalty in the 71st minute, Kommersant and RBC reported. Kommersant said he also assisted Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz. TASS reported that Messi scored a goal and provided two assists. RBC noted that Messi's penalty ended a streak of three consecutive matches in which he had missed penalties for Argentina. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The match took place at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, according to Kommersant. The outlet also reported that defender Nicolás Otamendi ended his international career alongside Messi in the same match. [ 5 ]
Kommersant gave a summary of Messi's Argentina career: 208 appearances, 126 goals and 62 assists. It said he won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, the World Cup in 2022, and was a silver medallist at the 2014 and 2026 World Cups. Kommersant described him as an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Those career statistics and titles were reported by Kommersant. [ 5 ]
Before the match, RBC reported that Messi, who had played for Argentina since 2005, would play his farewell match against Benin. RBC's headline quoted Messi saying “I leave with peace”. After the match, RIA Novosti described the occasion as “three goals and a sea of tears” and said Messi brightly said goodbye to the Argentina national team. [ 1 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Messi's farewell closes a career in which Kommersant reported he won the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles with Argentina. The coverage by Russian business and official outlets of different types shows the event drew attention beyond Argentina.
Key facts
- Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina against Benin. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Argentina won the match 3-0. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Messi scored a penalty in the 71st minute. [ 5 , 7 ]
- Messi provided two assists, according to TASS and Kommersant. [ 5 , 6 ]
- The match was played at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Kommersant reported. [ 5 ]
- Nicolás Otamendi also ended his international career in the match, according to Kommersant. [ 5 ]
- Messi's Argentina career included 208 appearances, 126 goals and 62 assists, Kommersant reported. [ 5 ]
- Messi ended a streak of three consecutive matches with missed penalties, RBC reported. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The exact kickoff time of the match. Only RBC said the match would be played on the night of 7 October; no document gave a precise time.
- The match was a friendly. Only Kommersant described it as a friendly (товарищеский матч); no other document specified the match type.
- Messi's Argentina career statistics (208 caps, 126 goals, 62 assists). Only Kommersant provided these figures; no other outlet cited them.
- Messi's titles with Argentina (Copa América 2021 and 2024, World Cup 2022, silver 2014 and 2026). Only Kommersant listed these honours; no other document mentioned them.
- Nicolás Otamendi also ended his international career in the match. Only Kommersant reported Otamendi's retirement.
- Messi's phrase “I leave with peace”. Only RBC's headline included the phrase; the documents contain no article text quoting Messi directly.
- Messi had a streak of three consecutive matches with missed penalties before this game. Only RBC reported the streak.
- Messi played for Argentina since 2005. Only RBC mentioned the start year; no other outlet confirmed it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RBC reports that Messi will play his farewell match for Argentina against Benin on the night of 7 October. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that Messi scored in his farewell match for Argentina. [ 2 ]
- RBC reports that the match ended 3-0 and that Messi scored in his last Argentina match. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti describes the farewell as “three goals and a sea of tears”. [ 4 ]
- Kommersant reports match details: 3-0, Messi's 71st-minute penalty, assists to Otamendi and Nico Paz, at Estadio Monumental; Otamendi also ends his international career. [ 5 ]
- TASS reports that Messi scored and gave two assists in Argentina's 3-0 win over Benin. [ 6 ]
- RBC reports that Messi ended a three-match streak of missed penalties by scoring from the spot. [ 7 ]