Messi ends Argentina career with win as Ronaldo pays tribute

Lionel Messi ended his Argentina international career with a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin in Buenos Aires on October 6, scoring a penalty and assisting two goals. The match was his 208th appearance for Argentina, where he finished as the team’s record scorer with 126 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo responded to Messi’s farewell with a public message of respect on social media the following day. Messi converted the penalty in the 71st minute, after helping set up goals by Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz. The result brought his national-team career to a close after more than two decades representing Argentina. He had announced in August that he would retire from international soccer. In a farewell message, Messi said he already missed wearing Argentina’s blue-and-white shirt and described his career with the national team as an incredible road. He thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that allowed him to represent his country. During an address to supporters after the match, he also spoke of his late father, Jorge.