Lionel Messi made his farewell appearance for Argentina in a friendly against Benin, providing the assist for Nico Paz to score in the 61st minute.
The goal carried added significance because Paz was wearing Argentina’s No. 18 shirt – the same number Messi wore when he began his international career nearly two decades ago.
Messi made his Argentina debut on August 17, 2005, in a friendly against Hungary. He came on as a substitute but was sent off just one minute later, in a dramatic introduction to senior international football.
The No. 18 shirt was on Messi’s back that day. In his final match for the national team, it was worn by Paz as he finished the move created by the 39-year-old captain.
Paz, who is 22, has now scored in each of Argentina’s three matches during this international break. His current market value is approximately 80 million euros.
He is widely regarded as one of the leading contenders to inherit Argentina’s No. 10 shirt when Messi’s international career ends. The assist and the shared connection with the No. 18 shirt have added symbolic weight to the moment, representing a link between two generations of Argentine football.
