Lionel Messi produced the perfect ending to his Argentina career, scoring once and assisting twice as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental. The FotMob Player of the Match delivered a 9.3 rating after a complete 90-minute performance.
Lionel Messi’s final appearance for Argentina had everything a football fan could have wanted.
There was the creativity, the assists, the goals, the penalty, the numbers and, above all, the emotion of seeing Argentina’s No. 10 play his final international match in front of his home supporters.
In what became Messi’s last tango for Argentina, the captain directly contributed to all three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Benin on October 6, 2026 earning Player of the Match honours. His performance included one goal, two assists, four chances created, two big chances created, five shots on target and 90 minutes played.
The numbers tell only part of the story. Let’s dive deeper!
Messi vs Benin highlights: A goal and two assists in his final Argentina game
Messi entered his final Argentina appearance knowing that every touch could become part of the farewell story.
After a goalless first half, he immediately became the difference-maker after the break.
Messi assisted Nicolas Otamendi in the 48th minute
Messi opened his account for the night with an assist rather than a goal.
In the 48th minute, he delivered the corner that allowed Nicolás Otamendi to open the scoring for Argentina.
It was particularly fitting because Otamendi was also bringing his Argentina career to an end. Messi and Otamendi had shared more than 17 years together with the national team, including four World Cups.
Messi assisted Nico Paz in the 61st minute
Thirteen minutes later, Messi created Argentina’s second goal.
In the 61st minute, he supplied Nico Paz with the assist for a 2-0 lead. Paz is among the younger players expected to carry Argentina forward after the Messi generation.
That meant Messi had already assisted two different generations of Argentina players during his final international appearance.
Messi penalty: His final Argentina goal
Then came the moment everyone inside the Monumental was waiting for.
In the 71st minute, Messi won the moment from the penalty spot and converted the penalty to make it 3-0.
The goal became his 126th for Argentina, adding another milestone to his record-breaking international career.
This was not simply another penalty for Lionel Messi. It was the last goal of his Argentina career.
He celebrated as the Monumental erupted, knowing that his next competitive goals would come at club level rather than in the famous blue-and-white shirt.
Messi’s 9.3 FotMob rating explained
The 9.3 FotMob rating reflects just how influential Messi was throughout the match.
His final statistics were:
| Messi vs Benin | Stat |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Accurate passes | 48/60 (80%) |
| Chances created | 4 |
| Big chances created | 2 |
| Shots | 9 |
| Shots on target | 5 |
| Shots off target | 4 |
| Shot accuracy | 56% |
| Touches | 91 |
| Touches in opposition box | 12 |
| Passes into final third | 10 |
| Successful dribbles | 1/4 |
| Corners | 4 |
The figures come from the FotMob match data.
Messi did not simply wait for his final goal. He remained heavily involved in Argentina’s attacking play throughout the 90 minutes. He created four chances, including two big chances, took nine shots and completed 10 passes into the final third.
In short, he was directly involved in every Argentina goal.
Messi’s last goal for Argentina came from the penalty spot
When people search for “Messi last goal”, the answer is now tied to one of the most emotional moments of his international career.
Messi’s final Argentina goal came against Benin in the 71st minute.
He stepped up to take the penalty, converted it and made the score 3-0. It was also his 126th international goal for Argentina, extending his record as the country’s leading scorer according to Reuters
It was an appropriate way for his Argentina scoring career to end: with Messi putting the ball in the net one final time while wearing the shirt he had represented for more than two decades.
Was Messi the Player of the Match against Benin?
Yes.
FotMob rated Lionel Messi 9.3 and named him Player of the Match after his 90-minute performance against Benin.
His contribution was decisive:
1 goal + 2 assists + 4 chances created + 5 shots on target = a 9.3 FotMob rating.
The performance also had historical significance because it came in Messi’s 208th and final appearance for Argentina.
Will Messi still play for Inter Miami?
Yes.
Messi’s Argentina retirement does not mean he is retiring from professional football.
Inter Miami confirmed that Messi signed a contract extension that runs through the end of the 2028 MLS season. That means he will continue his club career with Inter Miami after bringing his Argentina international career to an end.
So while the Argentina chapter is closed, the Lionel Messi story is not over.
His next goals, assists and performances will come in the pink of Inter Miami rather than the blue and white of Argentina.
Why Messi’s last tango was the perfect Argentina farewell
There could hardly have been a more fitting statistical ending.
Messi played the full 90 minutes. He created chances. He assisted Otamendi. He assisted Nico Paz. He scored a penalty. He finished with five shots on target and was named Player of the Match with a 9.3 FotMob rating.
But the significance went beyond the numbers.
Argentina won 3-0, more than 85,000 supporters filled the Monumental, and Messi ended his international career as Argentina’s most-capped player and record goalscorer.
The final whistle brought an emotional scene as teammates, opponents and the referee gathered around Messi. The night ended with tributes and a drone show celebrating his extraordinary international career.
For 21 years, Argentina watched Lionel Messi carry enormous expectations.
Against Benin, in his last tango, the country simply watched him enjoy one final night in the shirt.
And he left it with a 9.3 rating, a goal, two assists and a victory.
Messi vs Benin: Final performance at a glance
Match: Argentina 3-0 Benin
Competition: International friendly
Date: October 6, 2026
Venue: Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Messi: 90 minutes
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
FotMob rating: 9.3
Player of the Match: Lionel Messi
Final Argentina goal: 71st-minute penalty
Argentina appearances: 208
Argentina goals: 126 (See FotMob)
How did Messi perform in his last Argentina match against Benin?
Lionel Messi delivered a goal and two assists in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Benin, earning a 9.3 FotMob rating and Player of the Match honours in his final international appearance
