Lionel Messi is preparing for his final appearance with the Argentina national team this week. The celebrated footballer will don the Argentina shirt one last time for a friendly match in Buenos Aires against Benin. This celebratory runout follows his decision to retire from international football after the World Cup final.
Messi had previously retired from international duty in 2016 after a series of major final defeats, including the Copa América Centenario. However, he reversed that decision approximately six weeks later after a national campaign urged him to reconsider.
Over his career, Messi has accumulated 208 caps and scored 125 goals for Argentina, making him the most capped and highest goal-scorer for his country. He also holds the record for playing in the most men's World Cup matches (34) and shares the record for most editions played in (six).
His legacy includes winning the World Cup in 2022, as well as consecutive Copa América titles. Messi's final World Cup goal total reached 21, one short of Kylian Mbappé's 22. He also became the first player to start three men's World Cup finals.