Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Messi Ends Argentina Career as International Football’s Second-Highest Scorer
Lionel Messi finished playing for Argentina after a 21-year career.
His final game was a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires.
Messi helped his team by scoring a penalty and assisting a goal.
He first played for Argentina in 2005.
That first game ended early for him because he was sent off after 90 seconds.
By the end of his career, he had scored 126 goals in 207 games for Argentina.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals for a men’s national team, with 146.
Lionel Messi ended his 21-year career with Argentina during a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night.
Messi scored a penalty and assisted a goal in the match.
He made his Argentina debut on August 17, 2005, against Hungary and was sent off after 90 seconds.
Messi finished with 126 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina.
He is second among men’s international goal scorers, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 146 goals.
- Who
- Lionel Messi, Argentina’s national team, and Benin.
- What
- Messi ended his Argentina career with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win.
- When
- Tuesday night; the article does not give a calendar date.
- Where
- Buenos Aires.
- Why
- The match marked the end of Messi’s 21-year career with Argentina.
- Career length
- 21 years
- Final match
- Argentina 3-0 Benin
- Final match contribution
- One assist and one penalty goal
- Argentina appearances
- 207
- Argentina goals
- 126
- Men’s international scoring rank
- Second, behind Cristiano Ronaldo
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s total
- 146 goals
- Argentina debut
- August 17, 2005, against Hungary; Messi was sent off after 90 seconds