Messi scores in farewell as Argentina beat Benin
Lionel Messi enjoyed a fairy tale farewell as he scored on his last appearance for Argentina in a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires.
International Friendly
FULL TIME
- Nicolás Otamendi 48'
- Nico Paz 61'
- Lionel Messi 71' P
Estadio Más Monumental
Match Report
Last five matches
| Date | Opp | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/3/26 | vs Burkina Faso | W 7-0 | International Friendly |
| 9/30/26 | vs Bolivia | W 4-0 | International Friendly |
| 7/19/26 | @ Spain | L 0-1 | FIFA World Cup |
| 7/15/26 | @ England | W 2-1 | FIFA World Cup |
| 7/11/26 | vs Switzerland | W 3-1 | FIFA World Cup |
| Full Schedule | |||
Play by Play
-
Substitution 90'+1'
Amiro Amadou (Benin) Substitution at 90'+1'
-
Substitution 90'+1'
Substitution, Benin. Sahid Ngobi replaces Rodolfo Aloko.
-
Substitution 90'+1'
Substitution, Benin. Samadou Attidjikou replaces Imourane Hassane.
-
Substitution 79'
Substitution, Argentina. Exequiel Palacios replaces Enzo Fernández.
-
Substitution 79'
Substitution, Argentina. Franco Mastantuono replaces Cristian Romero.
-
Substitution 78'
Substitution, Argentina. Leonel Flores replaces Lautaro Martínez.
-
Substitution 76'
Substitution, Benin. Saturnin Allagbé replaces Marcel Dandjinou.
-
Substitution 75'
Substitution, Benin. Charlemagne Azongnitode replaces Tamimou Ouorou.
-
Substitution 75'
Substitution, Benin. Jodel Dossou replaces Aiyegun Tosin.
-
Penalty - Scored 71'
Goal! Argentina 3, Benin 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
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Substitution 64'
Substitution, Benin. Junior Olougbade replaces Yamirou Ouorou.
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Substitution 64'
Substitution, Benin. Mattéo Ahlinvi replaces Junior Olaïtan.
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Goal 61'
Goal! Argentina 2, Benin 0. Nico Paz (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
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Substitution 60'
Substitution, Argentina. Nico González replaces Julián Alvarez.
-
Substitution 59'
Substitution, Argentina. Nico Paz replaces Rodrigo De Paul.
-
Yellow Card 55'
Mohamed Tijani (Benin) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Substitution 52'
Substitution, Argentina. Facundo Medina replaces Nicolás Tagliafico.
-
Substitution 52'
Substitution, Argentina. Lisandro Martínez replaces Nicolás Otamendi.
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Goal 48'
Goal! Argentina 1, Benin 0. Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross following a corner.
-
Yellow Card 44'
Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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End Regular Time 90'+5'
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Substitution 90'+1'
Amiro Amadou (Benin) Substitution at 90'+1'
-
Substitution 90'+1'
Substitution, Benin. Sahid Ngobi replaces Rodolfo Aloko.
-
Substitution 90'+1'
Substitution, Benin. Samadou Attidjikou replaces Imourane Hassane.
-
Substitution 79'
Substitution, Argentina. Exequiel Palacios replaces Enzo Fernández.
-
Substitution 79'
Substitution, Argentina. Franco Mastantuono replaces Cristian Romero.
-
Substitution 78'
Substitution, Argentina. Leonel Flores replaces Lautaro Martínez.
-
Substitution 76'
Substitution, Benin. Saturnin Allagbé replaces Marcel Dandjinou.
-
Substitution 75'
Substitution, Benin. Charlemagne Azongnitode replaces Tamimou Ouorou.
-
Substitution 75'
Substitution, Benin. Jodel Dossou replaces Aiyegun Tosin.
-
Penalty - Scored 71'
Goal! Argentina 3, Benin 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
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End Delay 71'
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End Delay 71'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Start Delay 70'
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Start Delay 70'
Delay in match because of an injury Tamimou Ouorou (Benin).
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Substitution 64'
Substitution, Benin. Junior Olougbade replaces Yamirou Ouorou.
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Substitution 64'
Substitution, Benin. Mattéo Ahlinvi replaces Junior Olaïtan.
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Goal 61'
Goal! Argentina 2, Benin 0. Nico Paz (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
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Substitution 60'
Substitution, Argentina. Nico González replaces Julián Alvarez.
-
Substitution 59'
Substitution, Argentina. Nico Paz replaces Rodrigo De Paul.
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End Delay 55'
-
End Delay 55'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Yellow Card 55'
Mohamed Tijani (Benin) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Start Delay 55'
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Start Delay 55'
Delay in match because of an injury Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina).
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Substitution 52'
Substitution, Argentina. Facundo Medina replaces Nicolás Tagliafico.
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Substitution 52'
Substitution, Argentina. Lisandro Martínez replaces Nicolás Otamendi.
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Goal 48'
Goal! Argentina 1, Benin 0. Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross following a corner.
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Start 2nd Half 45'
Second Half begins Argentina 0, Benin 0.
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Halftime 45'+1'
First Half ends, Argentina 0, Benin 0.
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Yellow Card 44'
Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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End Delay 12'
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End Delay 12'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Start Delay 11'
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Start Delay 11'
Delay in match (Argentina).
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Kickoff
First Half begins.
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Start Delay
Showing the last 37 of 37 events.
Team Stats
BEN
ARG
14
Fouls
11
1
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
0
Offsides
6
2
Corner Kicks
8
8
Saves
2
34.8
Possession
65.2
7
SHOTS
19
2
ON GOAL
12
30
On Target %
60
0
Penalty Goals
0
0
Penalty Kicks Taken
1
282
Accurate Passes
607
356
Passes
666
80
Pass Completion %
90
3
Accurate Crosses
6
5
Crosses
16
60
Cross %
40
39
Long Balls
30
18
Accurate Long Balls
21
50
Long Balls %
70
2
Blocked Shots
1
9
Effective Tackles
9
15
Tackles
14
60
Tackle %
60
14
Interceptions
18
17
Effective Clearances
4
17
Clearances
4
Highlights
Lineups
ConfirmedARG · 4-3-3
Emiliano MartínezG232 saves
Nicolás OtamendiCD-L19 yellow card1 shot on target1 goal1 shot
Cristian RomeroCD-R13
Nicolás TagliaficoLB3
Agustín GiayRB4
Alexis Mac AllisterCM20
Enzo FernándezLM82 shots on target2 shots
Rodrigo De PaulRM71 shot
Lautaro MartínezF221 shot
Julián ÁlvarezLF91 shot on target1 shot
Lionel MessiRF102 assists5 shots on target1 goal9 shots
Substitutes
Nico PazSUB181 shot on target1 goal1 shot
Giuliano SimeoneSUB17
Lisandro MartínezSUB6
Leonel FloresSUB312 shots on target2 shots
Valentín BarcoSUB24
Giovani Lo CelsoSUB11
Juan MussoSUB1
Gerónimo RulliSUB12
Franco MastantuonoSUB301 shot
Gianluca PrestianniSUB16
José Manuel LópezSUB21
Leonardo BalerdiSUB2
Facundo MedinaSUB25
Nico GonzálezSUB15
Exequiel PalaciosSUB14
BEN · 4-2-3-1
Marcel DandjinouG15 saves
Mohamed TijaniCD-L13 yellow card
Yohan RocheCD-R51 shot
Tamimou OuorouLB31 shot
Liam OmoreRB2
Junior OlaitanAM181 shot on target3 shots
Hassane ImouraneLM8
Sessi D'AlmeidaRM15
Tosin AiyegunF101 shot
Yamirou OuorouAM-L111 shot on target1 shot
Rodolfo AlokoAM-R17
Substitutes
Amiro AmadouSUB4
Jodel DossouSUB20
Matteo AhlinviSUB7
Sahid NgobiSUB6
Saturnin AllagbéSUB163 saves
Junior Pamilerin OlougbadeSUB19
Joseph Oloko EdeSUB21
Olatoundji TessilimiSUB14
Charlemagne AzongnitodeSUB12
Samadou AttidjikouSUB22
Serge ObassaSUB23
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