Lionel Messi says adiós: On Tuesday night, the Argentine superstar took to the pitch one last time for the Albiceleste at a sold-out Monumental.
Over 80,000 fans had made their way to El Monumental, Argentina’s national stadium in Buenos Aires. Naturally, everyone wanted to see their national hero, Lionel Messi, in the Albiceleste shirt one last time.
Emotions were bound to run high at the farewell match for one of the greatest footballers of his generation. Even before the kick-off, the first tears were already rolling here and there as Messi, together with his three sons Thiago (13), Mateo (11) and Ciro (8), took to the pitch to thunderous applause, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display and a drone show, before bidding farewell to the fans in a speech lasting around four minutes. He had won the World Cup and two Copa América titles with his country.
Ovations after ten minutes
The sporting aspect – that is, the friendly against Benin – took a back seat that evening. So, after just ten minutes – in honour of Messi’s shirt number, which he has defined like few others – there was another interruption featuring fireworks, ovations and applause.
Of course, Messi would have rounded off this fairytale farewell with a goal of his own. However, at El Monumental, patience was required for the time being. Time and again, his team-mates sought out “La Pulga”, the Flea – for example, in the 24th minute, when he slid in to meet a cross from the right half of the pitch, only to see the ball fly just a few centimetres wide of the goal.
Farewell goal from the spot
After 71 minutes, Messi finally got his farewell goal: right-back Giay was fouled on the foot inside the penalty area – penalty. With a smile on his lips, Messi stepped up in his 208th international appearance and, with a powerful shot under the crossbar, scored his 126th international goal for the Albiceleste.
By the time the penalty was awarded, Argentina were already leading 2–0, and the playmaker had played a key part in that as well. For the first goal, he delivered a precise corner to Otamendi, who scored with a first-time volley from inside the five-metre box (48’). Shortly afterwards, Messi picked out Paz from the right, whose curling shot struck the left post (61’).
The closing minutes of a match that had long since been decided on the pitch belonged solely to Messi, who was not substituted; instead, he soaked up the energy in the stadium and, more than 20 years after his debut in the national team shirt in August 2005, finally left the pitch.
