Buenos Aires Times, tears as Messi retires from international football
Lionel Messi brought the curtain down on his epic 21-year international career on Tuesday, bidding farewell to adoring fans in an emotional final appearance for Argentina. In a perfectly scripted finale, the 39-year-old - widely regarded as the greatest football player in history - signed off with his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 supporters as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Benin.
Messi, playing in his record-extending 208th international, also provided the corner kick assist for the opening goal scored by veteran Nicolás Otamendi, with youngster Nico Paz also scoring from a pass from the captain. But the match was a footnote to the occasion itself, which saw Messi savouring the adulation of the Monumental Stadium crowd one last time for an event which had been billed rather cheesily as 'The Last Tango.
' "It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this shirt for more than 20 years," Messi told fans in a post-match speech. "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." 'Too much' Messi said he had no regrets about his decision to retire, citing Argentina's gruelling World Cup campaign, which took place as his late father was seriously ill, as a factor. "Even though I want to be here all my life, I feel that this is the moment.
The last World Cup was too much, everything I had to live through," said Messi. Emotions ran high even before the game.
Messi was pictured wiping away tears as the team coach carrying him and his Argentina team-mates made its way through crowds of wellwishers en route to the stadium. Messi took the pitch accompanied by his three children and received affectionate waves from his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, who were watching from a VIP box.
Shortly before kick off, a giant Argentina shirt bearing the word Gracias above the football superstar's number 10 was laid out on the pitch as the crowd roared their approval. Messi welled up again as Malvinas War veteran Fabio Santana sang the national anthem beside a banner which read "The Malvinas are Argentine" - the same banner held aloft by players after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England.
The competitive level was far from that stunning semi though. The match was even halted in the 10th minute - in tribute to Messi's shirt number - for a minute-long ovation to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.
Messi, who missed three good chances during the match, crowned the occasion with a goal from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.