Barcelona have paid tribute to Lionel Messi following his final appearance for Argentina, a 3-0 victory over Benin in which the forward scored once and created both of his side’s other goals.
The club waited until the match had finished before publishing its message, marking the end of Messi’s Argentina career while celebrating the player whose development and greatest achievements were so closely linked to Barcelona.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the tribute connected a significant moment in Argentina’s history with Messi’s long association with the Catalan club. Barcelona was where he developed, made his first-team debut, won major trophies and claimed most of his individual honours.
The club’s message looked back across Messi’s international career, beginning with Argentina’s gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and continuing through what it described as an unforgettable period with the national team.
Barcelona accompanied the tribute with a photograph of a young Messi wearing his Olympic medal. The image placed an early milestone in his Argentina career at the heart of the club’s farewell, rather than focusing on one of the many triumphs he enjoyed in a Barcelona shirt.
The photograph showed Messi as a young Argentina player at the beginning of an international journey that would become one of the defining parts of his career. It was credited to jikatu under a CC BY-SA 2.0 licence.
Messi finishes with decisive Argentina display
Messi’s performance against Benin provided a notable conclusion to his international appearances. He scored one goal and assisted the other two as Argentina secured a 3-0 win.
By waiting until the final whistle, Barcelona ensured its tribute came after the match that confirmed Messi’s final outing for the national team. The club congratulated him on a career in which he continued to raise the profile of Argentina’s shirt.
Its message also highlighted the lasting relationship between Messi and Barcelona. The club was the place where he grew into a first-team player and established himself among the game’s most decorated footballers, while the Benin match gave Barcelona an opportunity to recognise his accomplishments with the Albiceleste.
The tribute was concise but deliberate in its presentation. By pairing the Beijing 2008 medal with praise for Messi’s career with Argentina, Barcelona acknowledged an international legacy that sits alongside the extraordinary record he created in Blaugrana colours.
