Lionel Messi has paid emotional tribute to Argentina football legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, following what marked the 39-year-old forward’s final appearance for the national team.
Messi brought his 21-year international career to an emotional close on Tuesday, October 6, as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The match was played before more than 85,000 supporters, with Messi scoring Argentina’s third goal from the penalty spot and providing two assists as the world champions gave their captain a memorable farewell.
Following the match, Messi reflected on his international career in an emotional post, saying he already missed wearing Argentina’s famous sky-blue-and-white shirt.
He described his time with the national team as an “incredible journey” filled with both happy and difficult moments, but said every part of the experience had been worthwhile.
Messi also paid tribute to Maradona, one of the most revered figures in Argentine football and the player who famously wore the No. 10 shirt before him.
“I don’t want to forget Diego, who put our country where it deserved to be,” Messi said, adding that he believed Maradona had supported Argentina during his life and continued to do so from “heaven.”
The tribute carried particular significance given Maradona’s enduring influence on Argentine football and the symbolic connection between the two players. Messi eventually followed Maradona’s legacy by leading Argentina to major international honours, including the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Messi also remembered his father, Jorge Messi, who died on August 8, 2026, at the age of 68.
The absence of his father was particularly emotional during the farewell at the Monumental. Messi later shared a photograph of himself in the Argentina shirt looking towards the sky, accompanied by a message dedicated to Jorge.
“You don’t know how much we missed you last night,” Messi wrote.
Jorge Messi played a significant role in his son’s career and was a familiar presence throughout Lionel Messi’s rise from Rosario to becoming one of football’s most recognised players.
During his farewell on the pitch, Messi also referred to his father as “mi viejo” — “my old man” or “my dad” — when reflecting on the emotions surrounding the occasion.
The farewell itself was filled with tributes. The Monumental paused during the 10th minute of the match for a special ovation for Messi, with more than 85,000 supporters standing and chanting his name. Fireworks were also set off as the celebration continued.
Before the match, Messi entered the pitch alongside his three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, and became visibly emotional during the Argentine national anthem. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was also seen in tears during the ceremony.
The match against Benin ultimately provided Messi with the kind of ending that reflected his extraordinary international career: a goal, two assists and a victory for Argentina.
His final appearance took his Argentina record to 208 matches and 126 goals, making him the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.
For Messi, however, the night was about more than statistics.
It was a farewell to the shirt he had worn for more than two decades, a tribute to the country he represented throughout his career, and a moment to remember two figures who hold a special place in his personal and football journey — Diego Maradona and his father, Jorge Messi.
As Argentina begins a new chapter without its iconic captain, Messi’s final night with the national team ended with gratitude, memories and an emotional tribute to those who helped shape his journey.
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