I’d Love to Play for the Rest of My Life’ — Messi’s Emotional Argentina Farewell

Lionel Messi admitted he would happily continue representing Argentina for the rest of his life as the legendary forward delivered an emotional farewell to the national team after Tuesday’s 3–0 victory over Benin at the Monumental.

Messi, who scored one goal and provided two assists in his final international appearance, struggled to contain his emotions as he addressed more than 85,000 supporters following the match.

“It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this jersey for more than 20 years,” Messi said, reflecting on a remarkable international career that began in 2005.

The Argentina captain then delivered one of the most poignant lines of his farewell, making clear just how deeply the national team has remained connected to his identity.

“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,” Messi said.

Despite that desire, Messi acknowledged that the time had come to step away after a career that ultimately brought Argentina the Copa América, Finalissima and World Cup titles.

“Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful,” he admitted, while explaining that the demands of the most recent World Cup had reinforced his decision to retire internationally.

Messi’s farewell could hardly have been more fitting on the pitch. He created Nicolás Otamendi’s opener, supplied the assist for Nico Paz’s second goal and then converted a penalty to score Argentina’s third.

The goal took Messi’s Argentina tally to 126, while the match marked his record 208th appearance for the national team. He leaves as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.

His final words also carried a message for the future. Messi said that, although he would no longer be on the pitch, he would remain alongside the national team as a supporter.

“I’ll be on that side, supporting all the boys, everyone who comes in. Always united,” he said.

After more than two decades, 208 appearances, 126 goals and the major international trophies that had once seemed beyond reach, Messi’s Argentina story ended with the same shirt he had spent his career fighting to honour — and a final reminder of how much it meant to him.