Lionel Messi Remembers Late Father Jorge in Tearful Farewell Speech After Final Argentina Game

Lionel Messi began his final goodbye to Argentina not with trophies or records, but with his late father, Jorge.

The 39-year-old became emotional as he addressed supporters at the Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, 6 October, moments after making his final appearance for Argentina in a 3-0 victory over Benin.

'It's very difficult to say anything today; there are so many emotions. The first thing I think about is my dad,' Messi said, according to the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

Messi Breaks Down Before Kick-Off

Messi's farewell had become emotional even before his final match began.

During the Argentine national anthem, Messi broke down in tears and at times struggled to sing. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was also visibly emotional alongside his captain.

Messi's three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, joined him for the pre-match ceremony, placing his family beside him for one of the defining moments of his final night in the Albiceleste shirt.

The anthem was performed by Fabio Santana, a veteran of the Falklands War, as a packed Monumental sang along.

Messi then made his final Argentina appearance count. He helped create Argentina's opening two goals, including an assist for Nicolás Otamendi, before converting a second-half penalty himself.

'The Best Thing That Happened To Me'

Messi used his farewell speech to reflect on more than two decades representing Argentina, including the difficult years before the trophies that eventually defined the latter part of his international career.

'Playing for the Argentina national team was the best thing that happened to me in life,' he told supporters.

His senior international career began against Hungary in Budapest on 17 August 2005, when he was sent off shortly after coming on as a substitute.

More than 21 years later, he finished with 208 senior appearances and 126 goals, leaving as Argentina's record appearance-maker and all-time leading scorer.

Messi won four senior titles with Argentina, including the 2022 World Cup, while AFA counts six international trophies when his youth and Olympic successes are included.

Those triumphs transformed the closing years of Messi's international career, replacing the disappointment of earlier final defeats with the major honours Argentina supporters had long awaited.

His farewell therefore closed a journey that had included painful defeats, international retirement and an eventual return that culminated in Argentina finally lifting the World Cup in Qatar, completing the trophy collection that had once seemed destined to elude him.

Scaloni Says 'Nothing Will Be The Same'

The emotion extended beyond Messi. Scaloni later explained that his own tears came from memories of their years together and the reality of no longer having Messi in the team.

Scaloni said there would be nothing comparable on the pitch while describing the legacy left by his captain as 'incredible'.

For Messi, however, the farewell began not with records or trophies but with his father.

After 21 years, 208 appearances and a career that transformed Argentina's football history, his first thought as he tried to find the words to say goodbye was of the man closest to the beginning of his journey.