Lionel Messi has paid tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, following what has been described as his final appearance for the national team.

Reflecting on the emotional occasion in an Instagram post, Messi admitted he already missed wearing Argentina’s famous sky-blue-and-white shirt but said he was confident he had made the right decision.

The 39-year-old described his international career as an “incredible journey” filled with moments of happiness and difficult times, insisting that every step had been worthwhile.

Messi also used the occasion to remember Maradona, one of the most revered figures in Argentine football.

“I don’t want to forget Diego, who put our country where it deserved to be,” Messi said, adding that he believed Maradona had supported Argentina during his life and continued to do so from “heaven.”

The Argentina captain also paid an emotional tribute to his father, Jorge, who died on August 8, 2026, aged 68, following a long illness.

Sharing a photograph of himself in the Argentina shirt looking towards the sky, Messi wrote: “You don’t know how much we missed you last night…”

Messi had also spoken about his father during his emotional on-field farewell after the Benin match, saying his first thought amid the night’s emotions was of “mi viejo”, his father.

During the farewell, Messi thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that had supported his international career.

He also expressed gratitude to God and Argentina’s supporters for standing by the team through its successes and setbacks.

Messi’s reported international farewell brings an emotional close to one of the most celebrated careers in Argentine football, with his tributes to Maradona and his father adding a deeply personal touch to the occasion.

Messi scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium on Monday night in front of more than 85,000 supporters.

The match was Messi’s 208th appearance for Argentina, bringing an emotional end to a 21-year international career in which he became the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.

Lionel Messi has paid tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, following what has been described as his final appearance for the national team.

Reflecting on the emotional occasion in an Instagram post, Messi admitted he already missed wearing Argentina’s famous sky-blue-and-white shirt but said he was confident he had made the right decision.

The 39-year-old described his international career as an “incredible journey” filled with moments of happiness and difficult times, insisting that every step had been worthwhile.

Messi also used the occasion to remember Maradona, one of the most revered figures in Argentine football.

“I don’t want to forget Diego, who put our country where it deserved to be,” Messi said, adding that he believed Maradona had supported Argentina during his life and continued to do so from “heaven.”

The Argentina captain also paid an emotional tribute to his father, Jorge, who died on August 8, 2026, aged 68, following a long illness.

Sharing a photograph of himself in the Argentina shirt looking towards the sky, Messi wrote: “You don’t know how much we missed you last night…”

Messi had also spoken about his father during his emotional on-field farewell after the Benin match, saying his first thought amid the night’s emotions was of “mi viejo”, his father.

During the farewell, Messi thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that had supported his international career.

He also expressed gratitude to God and Argentina’s supporters for standing by the team through its successes and setbacks.

Messi’s reported international farewell brings an emotional close to one of the most celebrated careers in Argentine football, with his tributes to Maradona and his father adding a deeply personal touch to the occasion.

Messi scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium on Monday night in front of more than 85,000 supporters.

The match was Messi’s 208th appearance for Argentina, bringing an emotional end to a 21-year international career in which he became the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.

Lionel Messi has paid tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, following what has been described as his final appearance for the national team.

Reflecting on the emotional occasion in an Instagram post, Messi admitted he already missed wearing Argentina’s famous sky-blue-and-white shirt but said he was confident he had made the right decision.

The 39-year-old described his international career as an “incredible journey” filled with moments of happiness and difficult times, insisting that every step had been worthwhile.

Messi also used the occasion to remember Maradona, one of the most revered figures in Argentine football.

“I don’t want to forget Diego, who put our country where it deserved to be,” Messi said, adding that he believed Maradona had supported Argentina during his life and continued to do so from “heaven.”

The Argentina captain also paid an emotional tribute to his father, Jorge, who died on August 8, 2026, aged 68, following a long illness.

Sharing a photograph of himself in the Argentina shirt looking towards the sky, Messi wrote: “You don’t know how much we missed you last night…”

Messi had also spoken about his father during his emotional on-field farewell after the Benin match, saying his first thought amid the night’s emotions was of “mi viejo”, his father.

During the farewell, Messi thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that had supported his international career.

He also expressed gratitude to God and Argentina’s supporters for standing by the team through its successes and setbacks.

Messi’s reported international farewell brings an emotional close to one of the most celebrated careers in Argentine football, with his tributes to Maradona and his father adding a deeply personal touch to the occasion.

Messi scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium on Monday night in front of more than 85,000 supporters.

The match was Messi’s 208th appearance for Argentina, bringing an emotional end to a 21-year international career in which he became the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.