Argentina beat Benin 3:0 in Messi's last national team match; Benin says it got no photos or shirts

The last match

Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina on 7 October, a friendly that Argentina won 3:0 against Benin. Messi converted a penalty and added two assists in the win. Before kickoff, Benin's Matteo Ahlinvi was quoted by RFI calling the chance to face Messi in Argentina a great honour. Messi also gave an emotional speech to the fans after the match.

It is a great honour for us to face Lionel Messi in Argentina in his last match. It is a feeling of pride, joy and immense pleasure.

Benin's account

Benin coach Gernot Rohr told RMC Sport that his players tried everything to meet Messi, but nothing worked. Rohr said security did not let the Benin players into the corridor leading to the Argentine dressing room. The Benin players had brought shirts for an exchange after the match, but none were given. Rohr waited more than 30 minutes after the final whistle, and during that time Lionel Scaloni signed an old Argentina shirt worn by Messi in the match, which Rohr had with him.

Argentina did not give our players anything, not even a photo with Messi.

Rohr said his players had come prepared for a shirt exchange and had hoped to swap with the Argentine squad.

We wanted to exchange shirts, but we did not get any. Security was turning everyone away.

Accusations and a video

Journalist Romain Molina wrote that the Argentine Football Federation and players showed Benin no respect. He listed no bonuses, none of the generated revenue returned, no shirt exchange, not a single photo, and a ban on entering the Argentine corridor. Molina wrote that the Benin players were treated as mere props used to make money. A video published with the reports shows Messi avoiding a photo with one Benin player.

Career in numbers

Przeglad Sportowy reports that Messi ends his national team career with 208 matches, 126 goals and 69 assists. TVN24 dates his debut to 17 August 2005, against Hungary, when he came on in the 63rd minute aged 18 and was shown a red card 47 seconds later. His first World Cup came in 2006, when he scored late in a 6:0 win over Serbia and Montenegro. Argentina's 2022 title in Qatar followed a 3:3 draw with France in the final and a 4:2 penalty shootout win, with Messi scoring two goals.

A farewell in the stands

Messi's mother, Celia Messi, stopped as she left River Plate stadium to greet reporter Gonzalo Sorbo, who was reporting live for the America channel. She greeted him with a hug and a kiss before leaving the stadium quickly. Sorbo later thanked her in a social media post, writing that the embrace would stay with him for life. Sorbo said the emotion was so strong that for a moment he could not end the hug.

Darling, I always watch you. I am moved, the worst is over.