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Messi Calls Retirement ‘Saddest Day of My Career’ After Farewell Match

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At a glance

  • Lionel Messi has retired from international football after a 21-year career.
  • He scored one goal and assisted two in his final match, a 3-0 friendly win over Benin.
  • Messi described his retirement as the “saddest day of my career” in a post-match address.

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Lionel Messi has concluded his 21-year international career with Argentina. His final match was a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin, where he scored one goal and provided two assists. The match, played in front of a packed stadium in Buenos Aires, was a national celebration of his career. Following the game, Messi expressed deep emotion, calling it the "saddest day" of his career but saying he would continue to support the team as a fan.

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Following his final match, an emotional Lionel Messi described his retirement from international football as the “saddest day of my career.” He told fans, “Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful.”

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Following his final match for Argentina, Lionel Messi described his retirement from international football as the “saddest day of my career.” In an emotional address to the fans and his teammates at the Monumental Stadium, the 39-year-old expressed his gratitude for over two decades of service.

“It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this jersey for more than 20 years,” Messi said. “Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful. I swear I’d like to play for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni also paid tribute, calling Messi “unique” and stating, “I have never seen such a set of skills in any other player in all my life.”

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