Lionel Messi has officially said goodbye to the Argentina national team after two decades in the Albiceleste shirt. On Tuesday night, Argentina beat Benin 3-0 at the Monumental in Messi’s farewell match, with the captain scoring once and providing two assists.
The night had already turned into a celebration before kickoff, with singers performing for the packed stadium and tributes continuing after the final whistle. But once the festivities were over, Messi took the microphone to say goodbye to the supporters who had come to share his final night in an Argentina shirt.
Speaking in Spanish, Messi reflected on his extraordinary journey with the national team, the teammates who fought alongside him, the supporters who followed Argentina around the world and the dream of becoming world champions. He also revealed that his father was the first person who came to his mind during the emotional moment.
Here is Messi’s full farewell speech, translated into English:
"I have nothing left to do but thank this shirt. For 20 years, even through the worst moments, I never stopped fighting, pushing forward, giving everything I had and wanting to be here.
"Not coming here anymore and no longer being with the Argentina National Team is going to hurt a lot. If it were up to me, I would love to be here for my entire life, because playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing there is.
"I think I’m talking more than ever today because I simply don’t want this moment to end.
"But I think the time has come for me to retire. The last World Cup took a lot out of us after everything we went through. We arrived in the final with just enough left in us, but we fought until the very end, like we always did.
"We came very close to winning it again, and despite everything that was said about us, nothing strange happened. The match against England took a lot out of us because we gave absolutely everything.
"In 2022, we had the dream of fulfilling not only my dream, but the dream of an entire country: becoming world champions again. And we did it.
"We won the World Cup, the Copa América, the Finalissima… I’m incredibly grateful for everything I experienced with this National Team.
"But this journey wasn’t only about 2022 or this last World Cup. So many teammates fought alongside me for this shirt long before we finally became world champions. Never doubt how much every one of them fought and gave for Argentina.
"It was a privilege and an honor to share the pitch with all of my teammates and to share so much of our lives together away from football. Every time we stepped onto the pitch, I knew we could compete against anyone because I had warriors beside me who were willing to leave absolutely everything out there.
"To achieve the biggest things, you need a strong group. And it’s during the most difficult moments that you truly discover what kind of team you have. That’s one of the biggest reasons we were able to achieve everything we did.
"And especially to this group: THANK YOU. They helped me fulfill the dream I had since I was a child. They helped me become a world champion.
"I also want to thank the people. I was lucky enough to play in so many cities across Argentina, and everywhere I went, I received an incredible amount of love.
"Throughout all these years, wherever we played in the world, the stadiums were always full of Argentinians. No matter the match or the distance, people made an enormous effort to be there. We know how difficult that is. Wherever we went in the world, it felt like we were playing at home because we could always feel your support.
"And that support has to continue. Difficult moments will come, and those are the moments when you have to support the team more than ever. You need strong, united groups because there will always be people who want to see the National Team fail, and we can’t give them that satisfaction.
"Here, in this stadium, I experienced one of the happiest days of my life: our first match at home after becoming world champions. It was beautiful. And today might be one of the saddest because I’m standing here saying goodbye.
"I’m going to miss all of you so much, but I’ll always be on your side. I’ll be supporting these boys and everyone who comes after them.
"There are so many emotions going through me right now. I’m surely forgetting many things I would like to say because this is a very difficult moment for me. The first person who comes to my mind is my dad.
"I’m going to miss playing here so much. I love you all, and I’m proud to be Argentine.
"I leave grateful, proud and at peace. Thank you for everything."
After 20 years, Messi’s journey with the Argentina national team is over.
He leaves behind a legacy crowned by the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and, most importantly, the 2022 World Cup — the trophy he had dreamed of winning for himself and his country.
His final words at the Monumental, however, were not about the trophies. They were a thank-you to the shirt, his teammates and the millions of Argentinians who stood by him through every high and low.
And with a final “Thank you for everything,” Messi said goodbye to the national team he had represented since 2005.
