2026-10-06 11:17:48Sport SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Lionel Messi

Tuesday, October 6th is Lionel Messi's day. 'The Flea' will say goodbye to the Argentine national team for good with a friendly match against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

It is Messi's last tango after 21 years filled with goals, glory and tears with the jersey of an Argentina that after a long time learned to love this extraordinary talent admired all over the world.

 
'The last match, a jersey for life' - Lionel Messi wrote a while ago on social networks on the eve of this last meeting of his with the Albiceleste team. At the age of 39, Lionel Messi closes only one chapter of his extraordinary career, the one with the Argentine national team that accompanied him in his growth until the realization of his great dream, the triumph in the 2022 World Cup. The disappointment in the final lost in New York to Spain that 'adopted' him since he was 13 years old, certainly pushed Messi to make this choice, but at this point the loss of his most beloved person, the man who had been by his side his entire life and career, his father Jorge Messi, also weighed.

With 48 trophies won, Lionel Messi is the footballer who has won the most titles in his career. Compared to another Argentine legend Diego Armando Maradona, Messi spent the 2000s astonishing all fans with his game, and he is still doing so now that he is almost 40 years old with Inter Miami in Florida.

'Football is my passion and as long as I enjoy it, I will play,' the Albiceleste captain has often said. His debut with Argentina in 2005 was unforgettable. It all happened in a friendly against Hungary and lasted just 43 seconds after Messi was sent off. His real debut came in the 2006 World Cup, 20 years ago, with the Argentina of Crespo, Tevez, Cambiasso, with the 18-year-old protagonist with a goal and an assist in the 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro. In total, he played in 6 editions of the World Cup, collecting goals and records that make Lionel Messi one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday by private jet with his entire family and spent a few days in Rosario before joining Lionel Scaloni's squad.

In the match against Benin, he is expected to play the full 90 minutes; it was the coach who convinced Messi to allow himself a farewell worthy of his name, avoiding his last image being linked to the final lost to Spain; in tears for the defeat, at a difficult moment in his private life and with regret that he did not have the closure he deserved.

A special jersey was created for the grand final; the classic white and blue colors and shiny gold on the number 10 and on the sleeve cuffs. But the one made from a plastic bag by an Iraqi child was also beautiful, because inside it was a dream, a priceless thing.

Messi, who recently bought the Eldense team, greets and hopes to score again to celebrate his last match with the national team in a dignified manner.

The 80,000 people who will be at the Monumental and the millions who will follow him on screen will try to hold back their tears as he bids farewell to the Argentine national team.


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