Messi pays tribute to father and Maradona after final Argentina game

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

Reflecting on the occasion in an Instagram post on Wednesday, Messi said he already missed wearing Argentina’s famous sky-blue-and-white shirt but was confident he was making the right decision. He described his international career as an “incredible journey” filled with both happiness and difficult moments, adding that every step had been worthwhile.

Messi also remembered Maradona, who remains 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 both during his life and from “heaven.”

The Argentina captain also shared a more personal tribute to his father, who died on August 8, 2026, aged 68, after a long illness. Alongside a photograph of himself wearing the Argentina shirt and looking toward 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 that his first thought amid the emotions of the night was of “mi viejo”, his father. During his farewell, Messi thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that had supported his international commitments. 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 the curtain down on one of the most celebrated careers in Argentine football, while his tributes to Maradona and his father added a deeply personal dimension to the occasion.

Messi, 39, 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 marked 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.