Lionel Messi will take to the field for Argentina for the final time on Tuesday night. It’s expected to be an emotionally charged affair as the country’s greatest ever player bows out. The South American powerhouse welcomes Benin to the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires to allow as many fans as possible to bid Messi the fondest of farewells.
The 39-year-old has enjoyed a glittering international career, one that would have ended on the highest of highs had Argentina defeated Spain in the 2026 World Cup earlier this year.
Even so, Messi has claimed a number of accolades on the international stage and as he closes in on his 208th, and final, cap for Argentina, we look at the landmark moments during his international career.
Messi’s Argentina debut
Fresh from playing an integral role in Argentina’s U20 World Cup success in the Netherlands in July 2005, Messi received his first senior call-up later that year. In August 2005, the pint-sized forward made his debut for the national team. It didn’t go as planned.
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Messi replaced Lisandro Lopez in the 63rd minute during a friendly against Hungary, yet lasted just 47 seconds before receiving his marching orders. Having been pulled back by Vilmos Vanczak, Messi lashed out with a stray elbow, and was subsequently sent off.
“Maybe I started his career!” Vanczak told The Athletic back in 2022.
Messi’s first goal
It wasn’t until March 2006 that Messi scored his first Argentina goal. La Albiceleste played European side Croatia in the build up to the 2006 World Cup in what proved to be a five-goal thriller.
In a frantic opening six minutes, Ivan Klasnic opened the scoring for Croatia. Carlos Tevez responded, before Messi capitalised upon a Stjepan Tomas pass. He cut in from the right onto his favoured left and curled an unstoppable effort past Stipe Pletikosa in the first of 125 Argentina goals.
Messi’s first piece of silverware
Having been knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup, and fallen to a 3-0 loss to Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final, Messi claimed his first senior winners medal in 2008.
Argentina went the distance at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, beating Nigeria 1-0 courtesy of Angel Di Maria’s second-half strike. No prizes for guessing who provided the assist for the former Real Madrid and PSG man…
Messi assumes the number 10 shirt
It was a matter of when, rather than if, Messi assumed the number 10 shirt for Argentina. That moment came in 2009 once Juan Roman Riquelme called time on his international career.
Incidentally, it was Diego Maradona who was Argentina boss to pass on the number 10 shirt. “I remember Diego telling me he wanted to give me the shirt he’d worn, that he saw me ready to wear it, and that it was time,” Messi said after his first appearance in the jersey, a 4-0 win over Venezuela in which he scored one and provided two assists.
Messi takes on the armband
Javier Mascherano had sported the captain’s armband for the Argentina national team since 2008. However, once Alejandro Sabella took over as head coach in July 2011, he immediately announced that he’d pick a new captain.
He turned to Messi, who has donned the armband ever since. It wasn’t the first time Messi had captained his nation. Maradona named the forward captain for Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup 2010 group stage win over Greece having dropped Mascherano to the bench for the clash.
Messi’s first retirement
Argentina reached the 2014 World Cup final, only to lose to Germany. They then reached the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals, but fell to Chile on both occasions. After the second Copa America heartbreak, Messi announced his retirement from international football. That he became Argentina’s record goalscorer during the latter competition was scant consolation.
However, a nationwide campaign in Argentina saw Messi reverse his decision, much to the delight of football fans across the country, and beyond.
Messi’s first Copa America triumph
At the 10th time of asking, Messi secured his first major international title. The 2021 Copa America, which was delayed by a year and moved to Brazil owing to COVID, saw Messi also become Argentina’s most capped player ever.
He wasn’t at his best as Argentina claimed a 1-0 win over the tournament hosts, but Messi was on hand to captain his nation to international glory at the Maracana. He followed the Copa America triumph up with victory over then-European champions Italy in the 2022 Finalissima.
Messi’s first World Cup success
“It could be today, Grandma.” The words Messi ushered to himself as Gonzalo Montiel stepped up to take what proved to be the winning penalty in the 2022 World Cup final. It was Argentina’s third such success and Messi’s first of his career.
Two years later, and Messi captained Argentina to the Copa America as they successfully defended their crown, beating Colombia 1-0 after extra time at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Messi’s final Argentina appearance
Argentina made it to the 2026 World Cup final, but were thoroughly outplayed by eventual winners Spain. And at the end of August, he announced his decision to retire from international football.
Now, on Tuesday 6th October, Messi will represent his nation for the final time, bringing an end to a 21-year international career that has delivered plenty of highs and lows.
