Argentina fans were promised a show to remember on Tuesday night, and they were not to be disappointed – Lionel Messi’s final Albiceleste game ultimately hit all the right notes, proving a fitting farewell to a man who did his country proud for over two decades and bows out as a legend of the game.
You really could not have scripted it better. The Messi goodbye tour was a slow-burner, building up anticipation. Messi was a spectator for the opening stop, a one-sided demolition of Bolivia in Córdoba’s Estadio Kempes, yielding the floor to hopefully the stars who will lead Argentina through the next World Cup and beyond. Nico Paz, who scored one of the goals in a 4-0 victory, Román Vega, Gianluca Prestianni and Agustín Giay all got the chance to start in front of the legend, with teen talents Román Flores and Franco Mastontuono coming off the bench.
A similar script unfolded in what proved to be a rather farcical match in the Monumental last Saturday. Burkina Faso’s first-teamers dropped out of the fixture due to issues with the flight, leaving a ragtag U23 team to make the long trip to Buenos Aires. They arrived barely hours before kick-off and were rewarded for their troubles by going down 7-0 to Argentina, again without Leo making an appearance. So far, so inauspicious, but the stage was set for a true festival of football and emotions to break out.
Everything from Messi’s customary pre-match free-kick practice (the last ever, emphasised the minute-by-minute coverage on most of Argentina’s major networks) to his eventual entrance onto the Monumental turf was greeted by huge ovations and chants celebrating a national idol. Somewhat surprisingly, though, the first cheer belonged to another departing stalwart. After going goalless in the first half – proving Benin’s pledges to clear the way for the number 10 were tongue in cheek – Messi swung in an inch-perfect corner that was volleyed home by none other than Nicolás Otamendi. The defender held his provider aloft in celebration and immediately asked to be subbed out. Minutes later it was Paz, a full 16 years Otamendi’s junior, who picked up Messi’s pass and finished sublimely for his third goal of this international break. Reassuring indeed for those who worry what the future holds without Leo on the pitch.
But there was still something missing. Surely he would not go goalless in this most special of games, right? Of course not. With just over 15 minutes left Tamimou Ouorou’s clumsy challenge on Giay handed Argentina a penalty, and while Messi has been generous in handing out spot-kicks among team-mates in the past there was no doubt who was taking this one. The number 10 finished with ease and was mobbed by everyone wearing an Argentina shirt; one feels like if it were socially acceptable in a (in theory) competitive football match, the Benin side would have joined in with the celebrations too.
Post-match, the festivities continued. There was a moving speech from Messi, revealing public speaking abilities which had somehow gone unearthed through most of his previous two decades in the national team. “This is the saddest day of my career,” he confessed, while Enzo Fernández burst into tears in the background. There were fireworks, lots of fireworks, the cost of which were apparently offset by the questionable decision to fire a giant Sancor Seguros advertisement into the sky with the aid of drones. It was all suitably emotional and overwrought as you might expect to properly send off a man who carried his country’s hopes and dreams on his back for years and kept fighting right to the very end.
Lionel Messi leaves a giant hole in this Argentina team, but also countless incredible memories and the feeling of privilege that stems from having seen the greatest player ever to practise this sport do what he loves so well, for so long.
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