Messi's last Argentina match ended 3-0, with a penalty, two assists and a ten-minute speech to 85,000 people.

Argentina beat Benin 3-0 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night, in Lionel Messi's final appearance for his country. Kickoff was 8pm local (ART), 7pm ET, 4pm PT. 12

Messi scored a penalty and set up both other goals, then took a microphone in the middle of the pitch and spoke to the crowd for ten minutes. 3

Messi's corner reached Nicolás Otamendi, who finished at close range in the 48th minute. Thirteen minutes later Messi squared the ball for Nico Paz to curl in from the edge of the box, and in the 71st he put away a penalty. 14

Messi had missed twice from inside the six-yard box and hit the post late on. Argentina finished with 65% of the ball, 19 shots to Benin's seven and 12 on target to two, and Benin's goalkeeper made eight saves. 12

The 85,000 tickets sold out in 90 minutes. Messi walked out with his three sons, and a giant Argentina shirt carrying his No 10 and the word "Gracias" lay across the pitch. The match stopped in the 10th minute for a one-minute ovation while Benin's players queued to shake his hand, and a drone show closed the night. 34

Messi finishes with 126 goals in 208 caps, both Argentina records, and only Cristiano Ronaldo has more of either. 23 His 21 World Cup goals leave him one behind Kylian Mbappé's record, and he leaves with the 2022 title, two Copa Américas and two losing finals, the last a 1-0 defeat by Spain in July. 2 He continues at Inter Miami, with a contract to the end of the 2028 season. 5

Verdict: the football was a formality against an outmatched Benin, and the 85,000 people who filled the Monumental treated the evening as the point. 4