The 39-year-old captain made his final appearance for Argentina on Tuesday, 6 October, helping the world champions defeat Benin 3-0 at the Estadio Monumental in an emotional farewell watched by more than 85,000 supporters.
Messi scored Argentina’s third goal from the penalty spot and provided two assists as he signed off his 21-year international career in typically influential fashion.
A career that began in 2005
Messi’s senior international journey began on 17 August 2005 against Hungary in Budapest.
His debut lasted only a matter of seconds after he was sent off shortly after coming on, but that difficult beginning was followed by more than two decades of extraordinary achievement in Argentina colours.
From his early struggles to the criticism he faced before eventually becoming the country's undisputed footballing icon, Messi's relationship with Argentina evolved dramatically.
He ultimately became the player who carried the captain's armband while leading the country to its greatest triumphs of the modern era.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
• Next UEFA Nations League Fixtures, in WAT
• UEFA Nations League Standings after Matchday Four
• U-23 AFCON Qualifiers: Full Second-Round Fixtures as Nigeria Draw DR Congo
• Djokovic Says Beijing Title Shows He Can Still Play at the Highest Level
Argentina’s record appearance-maker and goalscorer
Messi finished his international career as Argentina's most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer.
His final appearance took his official total to 208 caps, while his goal against Benin was his 126th for Argentina.
Those numbers place him firmly at the top of Argentina's all-time records.
His international career also produced an extraordinary number of assists and goal contributions, underlining that his influence went far beyond scoring goals.
World Cup records that may stand for generations
Messi's achievements at the FIFA World Cup form a major part of his legacy.
Across six World Cup tournaments, he established numerous records, including the most World Cup appearances and the most matches played at the tournament.
He also holds the record for World Cup assists, while becoming the first player to score at the tournament in his teens, twenties and thirties.
Messi also became the first player to provide an assist in six different World Cups, demonstrating his extraordinary longevity at the highest level.
His World Cup journey included three final appearances, culminating in Argentina's triumph in Qatar in 2022, when he finally lifted the trophy that had eluded him for so long.
The trophies Argentina had been waiting for
For years, Messi was judged harshly in Argentina because of the national team's failure to win a major senior trophy.
That narrative changed dramatically in 2021.
Messi captained Argentina to victory at the Copa América, ending the country's long wait for a major senior international title.
A year later came the Finalissima, before the greatest achievement of all followed at the 2022 World Cup.
Argentina defeated France in a dramatic final in Qatar, with Messi scoring twice before converting his penalty in the shoot-out.
He was named the tournament's Golden Ball winner as Argentina became world champions.
Messi subsequently added another Copa América title in 2024, further cementing his place among Argentina's greatest sporting figures.
A record-breaking legacy
Messi leaves Argentina with a remarkable collection of individual records.
Among the most significant are:
• Most appearances for Argentina: 208
• Most goals for Argentina: 126
• Most World Cup appearances: 39-year-old Messi became the tournament's record appearance-maker across six editions
• Most World Cup assists: Messi finished his career as the tournament's leading provider of assists
• Most World Cup matches played: 34
• Most World Cup wins: 23
• Most World Cup goal contributions: 33
• Most World Cup knockout-stage assists: 10
• Most international hat-tricks for Argentina: Messi is Argentina's record holder
These records are only part of the statistical footprint he leaves behind. His combination of goals, assists, dribbling, chance creation and playmaking made him one of the most complete attacking players international football has ever produced.
From criticism to national hero
Messi's Argentina story was not always one of unconditional adoration.
After losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and suffering further disappointment in the Copa América finals of 2015 and 2016, he endured intense criticism from sections of the Argentine public.
He even briefly announced his international retirement in 2016.
But his return changed everything.
The 2021 Copa América triumph began a golden period for Argentina, followed by the Finalissima and the historic World Cup victory in 2022.
The player once criticised for failing to deliver an international trophy eventually became the captain who delivered the biggest prizes of them all.
A fitting final chapter
Messi's final night in an Argentina shirt provided an appropriate conclusion.
At the Monumental, Argentina defeated Benin 3-0, with Nicolás Otamendi opening the scoring before Nicolás Paz doubled the advantage.
Messi then stepped forward in the 70th minute to score from the penalty spot, bringing his Argentina goals tally to 126.
He also assisted both Otamendi and Paz during the match, ensuring that his final international appearance featured the qualities that defined his career: scoring, creating and controlling the game.
The night was ultimately about more than the result.
It was Argentina saying goodbye to the player who had represented the country for more than two decades and transformed his relationship with a football-mad nation.
An enduring place in Argentina’s history
Messi leaves the international stage as a World Cup winner, two-time Copa América champion and Finalissima winner, as well as Argentina's record appearance-maker and leading goalscorer.
His journey with the national team began with disappointment and uncertainty but ended with virtually every major international honour available to him.
From Buenos Aires to Barcelona and from Qatar to every corner of the football world, Messi's influence has extended far beyond statistics.
For Argentina, however, his legacy is particularly profound.
He arrived as a young boy carrying enormous expectations and departed as the country's undisputed football icon.
Lionel Messi's international career is over. His records, trophies and influence will remain.