Lionel Messi performed his remaining match for Argentina on 7 October, a pleasant towards Benin on the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, bringing down the curtain on a global profession that stretched greater than 21 years. After the sport, Messi mentioned that carrying the Argentina shirt for greater than 20 years had been a supply of delight, in response to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
Followers lined the streets outdoors the stadium to greet the group bus, and Messi was seen wiping away tears on board. A helicopter flew over the bottom trailing an enormous duplicate of his Argentina shirt earlier than kick-off.
Former golf equipment add their voices
Barcelona posted a tribute on social media, recalling Messi’s gold medal on the 2008 Beijing Olympics and describing his journey with the nationwide group as one which created historical past at each step. The membership addressed him instantly, congratulating him and urging him to maintain making the Argentina shirt extra recognisable.
Paris Saint-Germain, the place Messi performed from 2021 to 2023, additionally posted a message. The membership wrote that an unforgettable chapter shared with Argentina was coming to an finish, and instructed him to take pleasure in each second of it.
Neymar’s private message
In line with Foot Mercato, Neymar revealed a tribute within the hours earlier than the match. He and Messi have been teammates at Barcelona from 2013 to 2017 and once more at Paris Saint-Germain from 2021 to 2023.
Neymar wrote that everybody who loves soccer had been in a position to take pleasure in Messi’s expertise through the years. He added that the tributes arriving that day got here not solely from Argentina however from the entire world, and closed by thanking Messi for making him love soccer much more, saying it had been an honour to play alongside him and write historical past collectively.
Argentina’s poetic send-off
The Argentina nationwide group posted a poem on social media earlier within the day to mark the event. The verse spoke of crossing deserts and overcoming obstacles, of carrying the scars of many battles, and of desirous to sing till the final second.
The poem closed with the road: for another night time like this, I’d give every thing. Messi additionally acquired an honorary doctorate from the College of Buenos Aires as a part of the farewell celebrations.
