Lionel Messi Bids Argentina Farewell
Argentina honors Lionel Messi in his final national team match.
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Updated Oct 6, 8:57pm ETEvery side, every morning
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What happened
Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina against Benin in Buenos Aires, ending his 21-year international career. He had announced his retirement from Argentina duty on August 31, after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. Messi leaves as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, with 125 goals. He also won the 2022 World Cup and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024 with the team. The farewell became a tribute, with Messi crying, a large “Gracias 10” display, applause and fireworks. He assisted Argentina’s first two goals and scored during the match. Messi will continue with Inter Miami, where his contract runs through 2028.
How each side covered it
From the left
Left-leaning outlets framed the farewell as an emotional national send-off, while keeping focus on Messi’s unfinished club life. Rolling Stone treated the friendly as must-watch because it became a goodbye to Argentina’s blue-and-white shirt. El Pais lingered on the sweep of his legacy, from painful defeats to joy-restoring triumphs.
From the right
Only one right-leaning outlet we track covered this: Daily Mail, under the headline “Lionel Messi fights back tears as Argentina pays tribute to hero”.
Headlines
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Leo Messi’s final appearance: Argentina bids farewell to its all-time record scorerCenter3
Argentina bids Messi farewell in final national team match, ending an era
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