Lionel Messi scores in his Argentina farewell during 3-0 friendly win over Benin – in emotional Buenos Aires swansong

Lionel Messi’s final match in an Argentina shirt ended on a high as he scored and won in an emotional night, which included his family watching on.

Messi, who announced in August that he is retiring internationally – weeks after their abject World Cup final defeat by Spain and following the death of his father, Jorge – scored his country’s third in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin in Buenos Aires.

The 39-year-old scored from the penalty spot on 71 minutes after having provided the assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz to score earlier in the second half.

Messi bows out of international football with 208 caps, the most of any player in the team’s history, and a record 126 goals for Argentina. He is the only player to start three World Cup finals too.

Despite having retired in August, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was invited to participate in the friendly to celebrate his career, with all his team-mates from Argentina’s triumphant 2022 World Cup squad invited.

Lionel Messi: ‘It was a tremendous honour to wear this jersey’

After the match Messi, who won the aforementioned 2022 World Cup as well as two Copa Americas during his 21-year spell on the international stage, described playing for Argentina as ‘the most wonderful thing that can happen to you’.

‘I feel so many emotions,’ the iconic No 10 said in quotes reported by the Argentinean Football Association.

‘The first thing I think about is my old man. I can only express my gratitude; it was a tremendous honour to wear this jersey for over 20 years.

‘I never stopped fighting, never stopped giving my all. I swear to you that I’d like to come back for life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most wonderful thing that can happen to you.’

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said of his captain: ‘It’s been a dream come true. I never thought I’d be the coach of the best footballer in history.

‘We are eternally grateful to him for giving us the opportunity to be with him.

‘The tears are because so many things are going through my head. Not seeing him anymore will be sad; he leaves us with an incredible legacy.

‘The feeling of having him [Messi] on your side is incomparable… I’ve never seen that aura in anyone else in my life.’