Messi gets ovation during 10th minute of Argentina vs Benin farewell match
Argentina's Lionel Messi with sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro during the national anthems ahead of his final international match. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Argentina's Lionel Messi with sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro during the national anthems ahead of his final international match. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Lionel Messi received an ovation during the 10th minute of his farewell match between Argentina and Benin at the Estadio Monumental stadium on Tuesday.
Messi is donning the Argentine colours for the last time, bringing an end to a 21-year storied international career which included the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.
The 39-year-old had announced his retirement weeks after Argentina’s loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
During the farewell match against Benin, play was paused during the 10th minute — a tribute to Messi’s legendary No. 10 shirt.
Fans were seen giving La Pulga a standing ovation, fireworks went off, and even Benin players came over to shake hands with Messi. The adulation lasted for over a minute before the match resumed.
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