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For football in Argentina, and indeed across the world, it's the end of an era.  (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DSocialMedia%26at_campaign%3DFacebook%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with Facebook)      (https://x.com/intent/tweet?source=webclient&text=Football%3A%20Lionel%20Messi%20plays%20final%20game%20for%20Argentina+https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DSocialMedia%26at_campaign%3DTwitter%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with X / Twitter)      (Show more apps)     (https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DSocialMedia%26at_campaign%3DReddit%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with Reddit)   (mailto:?body=https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DWebmails%26at_campaign%3DEmail%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb&subject=Football%3A%20Lionel%20Messi%20plays%20final%20game%20for%20Argentina) (External link — share this page with EMail)   (fb-messenger://share/?link=https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DMessenger%26at_campaign%3DFacebookMessenger%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with Facebook messenger)   (whatsapp://send?text=Football%3A%20Lionel%20Messi%20plays%20final%20game%20for%20Argentina%20-%20https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DMessenger%26at_campaign%3DWhatsApp%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with Whatsapp)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DMessenger%26at_campaign%3DTelegram%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb&text=Football%3A%20Lionel%20Messi%20plays%20final%20game%20for%20Argentina) (External link — share this page with Telegram)   (https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DSocialMedia%26at_campaign%3DLinkedIn%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb&title=Football%3A%20Lionel%20Messi%20plays%20final%20game%20for%20Argentina&source=DW.COM) (External link — share this page with Linkedin)   (sms:?&body=https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu%3Fat_medium%3DSMS%26at_campaign%3DSMS%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with SMS)    https://p.dw.com/p/5Nrwu         (Lionel Messi waves to fans ahead of the game on Oct 6, 2026) (Lionel Messi waves to fans ahead of the game on Oct 6, 2026)   Argentinian fans have long worshipped Messi as the successor to the great Diego MaradonaImage: Gustavo Garello/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance    Advertisement     (https://www.dw.com/en/messi-retirement-hint-highlights-football-era-nearing-an-end/a-78415527) Lionel Messi made his 208th and final appearance for (https://www.dw.com/en/argentina/t-19131805) Argentina on Tuesday night, scoring his 126th and final international goal as the Albiceleste beat (https://www.dw.com/en/benin/t-67982653) Benin 3-0 in a friendly in Buenos Aires. In emotional scenes at a packed El Monumental stadium, Messi stepped up to convert a penalty in the 71st minute, prompting wild celebrations from teammates and fans alike. Earlier, the 39-year-old superstar had already set up goals for teammates Nicolas Otamendi – who was also making his final appearance for the national team – and Nico Paz – the youngster who is widely tipped to inherit Messi's iconic number 10 jersey. "It was a source of great pride for me to wear this jersey," Messi told fans in an address after the final whistle. "I can only express my gratitude... not coming back anymore will be deeply painful." "Gracias, Leo!" read an intricate drone show in the sky above the stadium at full-time, which concluded with the drones forming a profile of Messi's face. (Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi celebrate together on Oct 6, 2026) Messi (left) also set up a goal for Nicolas Otamendi (19), who was also making his final appearance for ArgentinaImage: Matias Baglietto/REUTERS   Messi: 'Proud to be Argentinian' Widely considered the best player of all time, (https://www.dw.com/en/lionel-messi-announces-retirement-from-international-football/a-78579502) Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31 – barely a month after Argentina (https://www.dw.com/en/spain-wins-second-world-cup-after-beating-argentina-in-final/a-78029285) lost 1-0 to Spain in the (https://www.dw.com/en/fifa-world-cup/t-43747820) World Cup final.  "It was a decision which hurts and still hurts but I know it's the right time," he wrote in a statement composed just two days after the defeat in East Rutherford, (https://www.dw.com/en/united-states-of-america/t-19065189) USA . "I swear that I have always given everything and that I have always fought for this shirt to make you happy and make you proud to be Argentinian through football," he said. "Thank you, God for making me Argentinian."  Messi: following in the footsteps of Maradona Argentina may have lost the 2026 World Cup final, but Messi's crowning moment came four years earlier when he led his nation to glory in (https://www.dw.com/en/qatar/t-63715610) Qatar , beating (https://www.dw.com/en/france/t-19065412) France on penalties after a spectacular final had ended 3-3. The triumph crowned an international career which hadn't always been easy as Messi, so prolific in club football for Barcelona, struggled to live up to expectations in his home country, where fans (https://www.dw.com/en/world-cup-2022-messi-maradona-is-pushing-us-from-heaven/a-64052939) worshipped him as the successor to the great (https://www.dw.com/en/argentine-football-legend-diego-maradona-dies-aged-60/a-55727401) Diego Maradona . He announced his international retirement once before in 2016 after losing three consecutive finals with Argentina – the 2014 World Cup final vs. (https://www.dw.com/en/germany-national-football-team/t-61378943) Germany in Brazil and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals, both to Chile. But he reversed his decision and led his country to the Copa America title in 2021, ending Argentina's 28-year wait for a trophy, before (https://www.dw.com/en/world-cup-messi-leads-argentina-to-victory-over-france/a-64140962) finally winning the World Cup in 2022 . Messi may have retired from international football, but he still has a contract with his current club, Major League Soccer (MLS) side (https://www.dw.com/en/lionel-messi-makes-inter-miami-debut-weather-no-match/a-66250354) Inter Miami , until 2028. Edited by: Rana Taha  If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google by (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=dw.com) (External link — clicking here) clicking here   and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.   (https://www.dw.com/en/matt-ford/person-36419045) (Matt Ford) (DW Matthew Ford Sports)  (DW Matthew Ford Sports) (DW Matthew Ford Sports)    (https://www.dw.com/en/matt-ford/person-36419045) Matt Ford Reporter for DW News and Fact Check    Send us your feedback      Your feedback (Close form)           Advertisement         (a-79570608@maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf.html#post-related-content-by-thematic-focus-region) Skip next section More on Sports from Latin America      More on Sports from Latin America (https://www.dw.com/en/lionel-messi-a-career-in-pictures/g-78372844) (Lionel Messi: A career in pictures) (Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy)  (Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy) (Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy)     (https://www.dw.com/en/lionel-messi-a-career-in-pictures/g-78372844)     Lionel Messi: A career in pictures  (https://www.dw.com/en/lionel-messi-a-career-in-pictures/g-78372844) Lionel Messi has played his final game for Argentina. DW looks back at the career of the Barcelona and Argentina legend.   Sports 10/07/2026 October 7, 2026  14 images     (https://www.dw.com/en/ultramarathon-in-mexico-no-distance-too-far/video-78932705) (No distance too far: Juana's journey to 100km) (A woman in an orange work uniform pushes a cart filled with waste materials along a street in Mexico City.)  (A woman in an orange work uniform pushes a cart filled with waste materials along a street in Mexico City.) (A woman in an orange work uniform pushes a cart filled with waste materials along a street in Mexico City.)     (https://www.dw.com/en/ultramarathon-in-mexico-no-distance-too-far/video-78932705)    No distance too far: Juana's journey to 100km  (https://www.dw.com/en/ultramarathon-in-mexico-no-distance-too-far/video-78932705) Every shift brings Juana closer to one goal: crossing the finish line after 100km.   Sports 09/04/2026 September 4, 2026  12:34 min     (https://www.dw.com/en/lionel-messi-announces-retirement-from-international-football/a-78579502) (Lionel Messi announces international retirement) (Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal with Julian Alvarez)  (Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal with Julian Alvarez) (Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal with Julian Alvarez)     (https://www.dw.com/en/lionel-messi-announces-retirement-from-international-football/a-78579502) Lionel Messi announces international retirement  (https://www.dw.com/en/lionel-messi-announces-retirement-from-international-football/a-78579502) The Argentine legend announced that he will not play for the national team again, ending an international career.   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