Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career on Tuesday at midnight (Nigerian time). He wore Argentina’s sky-blue-and-white jersey for the final time in a farewell friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. This match brought emotional tributes from Nigerian football and other places.
The 39-year-old announced his retirement from international football on August 31, after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
“I have nothing left to give,” Messi said, explaining how tough this decision was for him. He felt he had given everything to Argentina.
The Argentine Football Association organized the Benin match to celebrate Messi at home instead of ending his career abroad. Around 85,000 fans packed the Monumental to enjoy the occasion.
Former Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi was among many Nigerians who paid tribute to Messi. He called Messi one of the greatest players ever.
“Messi, I want to wish him a happy retirement from the national team. He is one of the greatest,” Onazi told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“We are going to miss his quality in international football. For me, he’s one of the greatest. It’s going to be very difficult to see someone like this. I wish him all the best, and I wish his family as well, because gradually he is winding down to get more time with the family, but we are going to miss him.”
Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha also shared his admiration, praising Messi’s special talent.
“Messi is on another planet; he’s art. He was born to play football,” Okocha said.
Nollywood actress and producer Uche Jombo also wrote a heartfelt tribute on social media before the farewell match. She reflected on what Messi’s career meant to many football fans.
“I honestly don’t know how to say goodbye to you, Leo!” Jombo wrote.
“For so many of us, you helped make us fall in love with football; watching you play is football. Messi is football! It became a part of our lives. We grew with you. We celebrated with you. We cried with you. We felt the heartbreaks, questioned whether the dream would ever happen… and then we watched you finally lift that World Cup.”
Tributes also came from outside Nigeria. Brazilian forward Neymar, who played with Messi at Barcelona, said Messi deepened his love for football.
“Anyone who loves football has enjoyed you throughout all these years,” Neymar said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.
“It’s not only Argentina that thanks you; the whole world thanks you for everything you’ve done for football. Thank you for making me love football even more. It was an honour to have played against you, and even more so to have made history alongside you.”
FIFA also shared a short tribute on social media, simply saying, “one more time.”
The farewell had a special African touch, with Benin’s involvement reminding fans of Messi’s early matches on the continent.
Benin assistant coach Tunde Adelakun, who watched Messi lead Argentina to victory over Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup final, spoke about the significance of the event.
“Africa has been at the heart of Messi’s remarkable career,” Adelakun said.
“I was physically there when they beat Nigeria in the final, where he was the most valuable player in that tournament. It’s an absolute pleasure that, when he is drawing the curtain on his international career, Benin will be part of that.”
Benin head coach Gernot Rohr, who also faced Messi while managing Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup, said it was a “big honour” for his team to be the opponent.
“Myself, I could play twice with Nigeria against Argentina, and in the second game at the World Cup, he gave me his jersey. So it’s wonderful to see him again, and this time now, I will ask him for his signature because he did not last time,” Rohr said.
“His creativity, with his left foot, it’s like a hand; he could do everything with his left foot. His quickness, also, and the efficiency in front of the goal. These were very, very, very special qualities of this big player.”
Messi finishes his international career as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and all-time leading scorer, with 207 caps and 125 goals before his farewell match.
His achievements with La Albiceleste include the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, the 2022 Finalissima, and Olympic gold at Beijing 2008. He also won the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he scored six goals, including two in the final against Nigeria. This earned him the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.
For Nigerian football fans, Messi’s international career holds many memories. From Vincent Enyeama’s great performance against him at the 2010 World Cup to Ahmed Musa’s two goals in the thrilling 3-2 loss to Argentina in the 2014 World Cup. Also, Victor Moses’s penalty in the close 2-1 loss at the 2018 tournament in St Petersburg.
Though Nigeria never beat Messi’s Argentina on the big stage, these matches are part of the country’s football history. They mark a career that started with heartbreak for the Flying Eagles in 2005 and ended against another African team in Buenos Aires.
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