Lionel Messi wipes away tears even before reaching the Monumental. Seated on the national team's bus traveling from Ezeiza to the stadium, he gazes out the window at the crowds lining the streets, surrounded by flags, raised phones, applause, and chants. The captain waves back, trying to contain the emotions of a day unlike any other. His final match with Argentina is yet to start, but the long farewell to his fans has already begun.
Behind him lies the national training center now bearing his name, while ahead awaits a stadium packed with over 85,000 people. They've come not just to watch a game, but to bid farewell to the player who brought Argentina back to the pinnacle of world football after the era of Diego Maradona.
Link to The Monumental Fills Up Hours Before the MatchThe Monumental Fills Up Hours Before the Match
Buenos Aires prepares for the farewell like a grand public celebration. According to La Nación, about 80% of the Monumental's seats were filled two hours before kickoff. Cumbia and cuarteto music fill the air as flags from neighborhoods, number 10 jerseys, and chants that have become the national team's soundtrack in recent years appear in the stands.
As the match begins, the score takes a backseat, though Messi manages to make his mark until the end. Argentina defeats Benin 3-0: the captain assists Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz, then scores a penalty, gifting the crowd one last goal in the Albiceleste jersey.
The players accompanying him on the scoresheet hold special significance. Otamendi is also making his final appearance for the national team, while Paz represents the generation tasked with carrying on the legacy of the world champions. At the tenth minute, play is halted for nearly two minutes of applause, with the entire Monumental standing to honor their number 10.
Link to The Jersey as a TributeThe Jersey as a Tribute
For the captain's final appearance, Adidas designs a special kit. The traditional company logo is replaced by Messi's stylized 'M,' worn by the entire team alongside the national emblem. The design echoes the Argentine flag, featuring the Sun of May and gold details, crafted specifically for the occasion.
Before the match, a farewell video was released. Messi expressed leaving the national team at peace with himself, knowing he gave his all, before hanging his jersey and walking out of the frame. An image built around the idea of concluding a journey that, in reality, was much more tumultuous than the unconditional affection shown by Argentinians today suggests.
Link to From 'Cold Chest' to Argentine IconFrom 'Cold Chest' to Argentine Icon
The relationship between Messi and his country hasn't always been as celebrated as on the Monumental's final night. For many years, the Barcelona-raised star was constantly compared to Maradona, an almost unrepeatable embodiment of the Argentine popular hero, fueling criticism and misunderstandings.
Messi was often criticized for being too quiet, lacking leadership, and failing to show the same personality with the national team as he did with Barcelona. The term pecho frío, or 'cold chest,' became a frequent attack, turning his reserved nature into a flaw. His club victories made national team defeats, especially lost finals, even more painful.
The toughest moment came in June 2016, when Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa América final. Deeply disappointed, Messi announced his intention to leave the national team. It was the real prospect of losing him that revealed a hidden affection behind the criticism.
In Buenos Aires, the plea 'No te vayas, Lio' appeared everywhere, echoed on social media, streets, and even subway information boards. Images of crying children asking him to reconsider circulated, and the message reached the captain, who later decided to return to the Argentine jersey.
Link to From Heartache to Triumph in QatarFrom Heartache to Triumph in Qatar
The Monumental also holds a key part of Messi's reconciliation with Argentina. In September 2021, the captain scored a hat-trick against Bolivia and could finally showcase the Copa América won months earlier in Brazil, his first major trophy with the senior national team.
The emotion was particularly intense because, ten years earlier, at the same venue and against Bolivia, Argentina left the field to boos after a draw. Returning to that stadium as a champion symbolically closed one of the deepest wounds of his national team journey.
The ultimate recognition came with the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Winning the World Cup forever changed the perception of his story with the Albiceleste, allowing a new perspective on lost finals, criticism, his 2016 retirement announcement, and subsequent return.
Messi ends his Argentina career with 208 appearances and 126 goals, along with a World Cup and two Copa Américas. These numbers capture the sporting scale of his career but don't fully convey the significance of a farewell after years of evolving from skepticism to adoration with his country.
Link to Messi Says Goodbye, Cristiano Ronaldo ContinuesMessi Says Goodbye, Cristiano Ronaldo Continues
As Messi bids farewell, Cristiano Ronaldo also returns to the spotlight. The other superstar with whom the Argentine shared the global football stage for nearly two decades is experiencing a different moment. In a lengthy statement, Ronaldo publicly addressed his conflict with coach Jorge Jesus, challenging his management and expressing willingness to return to the national team.
This coincidence highlights the contrasting paths of their careers. Messi accepts the end of his journey with Argentina after winning all major trophies, while Ronaldo continues to seek a place in Portugal. Two players linked by the same rivalry for an entire era now reach a decisive phase of their stories on different paths.
Link to Rosario Thanks Its Number 10Rosario Thanks Its Number 10
Rosario also joins the farewell. In Messi's hometown, a giant number 10 jersey is displayed with the word 'Gracias', while in Buenos Aires, monuments light up in white and sky blue. After the match, drones appear above the Monumental as Soledad Pastorutti performs Brindis, completing a ceremony designed to honor the captain.
When it's time to address the crowd, Messi includes a tribute to his recently deceased father, weaving personal grief into the collective homage. It's one of the most poignant moments of an evening where sporting celebration intertwines with family memories and a career spanning two decades.
It's past midnight when Messi leaves the Monumental. In the parking lot, he bids farewell to his mother Celia, siblings, and those who stayed to see him off, taking photos and signing autographs. He passes by journalists with a smile, offering no further comments, before getting into a white car and leaving the stadium.
(Associated Medias) - Tutti i diritti sono riservati