Messi Remembers Maradona, Father After Final Argentina Appearance
Lionel Messi has paid emotional tribute to Argentina football legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, following his final appearance for the national team. Messi reflected on his international career in an Instagram post after Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. The 39-year-old said he already missed wearing Argentina’s famous sky-blue-and-white shirt but remained confident that he was making the right decision. He described his 21-year international career as an incredible journey filled with both happiness and difficult moments, saying every step had been worthwhile. Messi also remembered Maradona, who remains one of the most revered figures in Argentine football, saying he did not want to forget the late icon who “put our country where it deserved to be.” He added that he believed Maradona had supported Argentina both during his lifetime and from “heaven.” Messi also paid tribute to his father, who died on August 8, 2026, aged 68, after a long illness. Sharing a photograph of himself in the Argentina shirt looking towards the sky, Messi wrote that they had missed his father greatly.
Messi had also spoken about his father during his emotional farewell on the pitch after the Benin match, recalling him as his first thought amid the emotions of the night. During the farewell, he thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that had supported his international commitments, as well as God and Argentina’s supporters for standing by the team through its successes and setbacks. The farewell brought the curtain down on Messi’s record-breaking 21-year international career. He made his 208th appearance for Argentina against Benin, scoring from the penalty spot and providing two assists as his side secured a 3-0 victory in front of more than 85,000 fans. Messi finished his Argentina career as the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer with 126 goals. His international career included the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles, while his final appearance marked the end of an era for Argentina’s national team.
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