Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Messi, Pelé and Maradona Had Three Different Football Farewells
Lionel Messi, Pelé and Diego Maradona were famous football players who each had a different goodbye to playing for their countries.
Messi scored and helped Argentina win 3-0 against Benin in his farewell match.
He then walked off with his family while teammates honored him.
Pelé played his last official international match for Brazil in 1971.
Fans begged him to stay, and the game ended in a 2-2 draw with Yugoslavia.
Maradona’s last international match was at the 1994 World Cup against Nigeria.
After a doping test, he tested positive for banned stimulants and had to leave the tournament.
In 2001, fans later celebrated him in a special farewell match in Argentina.
Lionel Messi scored and provided two assists in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Benin, then left through a guard of honor with his family.
Messi’s farewell followed 21 years with Argentina, during which he scored 125 goals and won two Copa América titles and the World Cup.
Pelé’s final official international match for Brazil was a 2-2 draw against Yugoslavia on July 18, 1971; fans chanted for him to stay.
Diego Maradona’s final international appearance came against Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup, after which he tested positive for banned stimulants and left the tournament.
Maradona later received a farewell match at La Bombonera on November 10, 2001, where Argentina beat a World XI 6-3 before 50,000 fans.
- Who
- Lionel Messi, Pelé and Diego Maradona, three Argentine and Brazilian football greats.
- What
- The article compares their departures from international football and Maradona’s later farewell match.
- When
- Messi’s farewell match was on a Tuesday; Pelé’s final official international was July 18, 1971; Maradona’s final international appearance was June 25, 1994, and his farewell match was November 10, 2001.
- Where
- Messi’s farewell took place at the Monumental; Pelé’s final international was at the Maracanã; Maradona’s final international was at the 1994 World Cup, and his later farewell match was at La Bombonera.
- Why
- The article recounts the different circumstances in which the three players said goodbye to international football.
- Messi farewell result
- Argentina defeated Benin 3-0.
- Messi international record cited
- 21 years and 125 goals for Argentina.
- Messi titles cited
- Two Copa América titles and a World Cup.
- Pelé final official international
- Brazil drew 2-2 with Yugoslavia on July 18, 1971.
- Pelé’s age
- 30.
- Maradona final international
- Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 at the 1994 World Cup.
- Maradona farewell match
- Argentina defeated a World XI 6-3 on November 10, 2001, before 50,000 fans.