On Tuesday night, all attention will be on Estadio Más Monumental as Argentina faces Benin in what promises to be a memorable friendly match. This event marks the last appearance of Lionel Messi with La Albiceleste, concluding a remarkable international journey that began in 2005 and spans 21 years.
As the soccer community honors Messi’s iconic career, let’s explore his time with Argentina through key statistics.
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1 – The World Cup trophy won by Messi when Argentina triumphed over France in a penalty shootout at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
2 – Copa America titles claimed by Messi, contributing to Argentina’s victories in 2021 and 2024. This also mirrors his number of Golden Balls received for being the top player in the World Cups held in 2014 and 2022.
3 – World Cup finals attended by Messi, with losses to Germany in 2014 and to Spain in 2026.
5 – Most goals scored in a single match by Messi, achieved against Estonia in 2022, equaling records set by Juan Marvezzi and José Manuel Moreno against Ecuador in the past.
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6 – The total number of World Cups Messi has participated in, starting from 2006, tying him with Cristiano Ronaldo for the most appearances by a male player.
11 – Total hat tricks by Messi on the international scene, with the first against Switzerland in 2012 and the latest against Algeria in the 2026 World Cup.
18 – The jersey number Messi wore during his debut for Argentina against Hungary in 2005.
21 – The number of goals Messi has scored in World Cup tournaments, including seven in 2022 and eight this past summer as Argentina reached its second straight final.
25 – Goals by Messi from the penalty spot out of his 125 international goals, which also includes the highest number of missed penalties (3) at the World Cup.
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47 – The duration in seconds of Messi’s debut for Argentina in 2005. Coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 victory over Hungary, he was dismissed for striking a defender who had pulled his jersey.
125 – Messi’s total international goals, ranking second behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 146 with Portugal.
208 – The total number of matches Messi will have played for Argentina following Tuesday night’s friendly against Benin.
2009 – The year Messi inherited the revered No. 10 shirt after the international retirement of Juan Román Riquelme.
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2016 – The year Messi briefly retired from international football. After losing a penalty shootout to Chile in the Copa América Centenario — marking Argentina’s third consecutive final loss — he decided to step away, only to return shortly after encouragement from fans and teammates.
7,720 – The number of days between Messi’s debut at age 18 and his final appearance for the national team at age 39.
As Messi steps away from international play, it marks the end of an era for soccer fans worldwide. His departure could significantly influence the sport’s future, as he has inspired countless aspiring players and shaped how the game is viewed.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
