Messi Calls Benin Match His Last for Argentina

Lionel Messi said Argentina’s 3-0 friendly win over Benin was his last match for the national team, after scoring once and assisting two goals in Buenos Aires. Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute to Messi in a social media post, praising his achievements with Argentina. The reports do not establish whether Messi’s retirement from international football is permanent. Messi shared a message after Tuesday’s match saying he already missed wearing Argentina’s blue and white and believed he was making the right decision. He described his time with the national team as an extraordinary journey of joy and sadness, and thanked those who had supported him. He also remembered Diego Maradona, saying the late Argentine footballer had helped put the country where it deserved to be. Messi expressed gratitude to the clubs where he had played for allowing him to answer the call of the national team. Ronaldo, Portugal’s captain and a longtime rival of Messi on the pitch, responded with a message of respect. He said Messi had made history through years of representing Argentina and offered him a hug.