Friendly Match – Messi's farewell game: 2 assists, 1 goal, Argentina defeats Benin 3-0 at home.

On October 6th local time, Argentina faced Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. They ultimately defeated their opponents 3-0, concluding Messi's final match in the blue and white stripes with a victory.

After the start of the first half, Argentina and Benin traded attacks, each having their share of chances. In the 7th minute, Rodrigo De Paul passed the ball to Messi, whose low shot from outside the box was saved by Marcel Danginou. Nicolás Tagliafico then intercepted the ball and passed it back, but Enzo Fernández's follow-up shot was also saved by Danginou. In the 17th minute, Junior Oletán's corner kick from the left was headed over the bar by Tosin Ayegun in the box. In the 19th minute, Rodolfo Aloko broke down the right and delivered a cross, but Oletán's close-range effort went just wide. In the 24th minute, De Paul crossed the ball from the attacking third, and Messi's sliding shot inside the box went wide of the left.

In the 26th minute, Messi nearly scored with a free kick, but it was brilliantly saved by Danginu. In the 32nd minute, Lautaro Martinez delivered a cross from the left, and Messi's shot inside the box went just wide of the post. In the 43rd minute, Yamiru Oulu played a through ball from midfield, and Olettan's low shot from the left side of the box was saved by Emiliano Martinez. Messi immediately responded with a pinpoint through ball, but Julian Alvarez couldn't get a shot off against the onrushing Danginu. In the 44th minute, Oulu broke into the left side of the box and fired a shot, but it was brilliantly saved by Martinez.

Just three minutes into the second half, Argentina finally broke the deadlock: Messi's corner kick from the left was met by Nicolás Otamendi, who tapped it in to open the scoring. In the 61st minute, Messi assisted Nico Paz's long-range shot, extending Argentina's lead to 2-0. In the 68th minute, Agustin Jai was fouled in the penalty area by Tamim Vorlu, and the referee awarded a penalty. Messi converted the penalty, slotting it into the bottom right corner, making it 3-0 for Argentina. In the 75th minute, Messi nearly completed his brace after receiving a cross from Nico González on the left, but his shot ultimately went just wide of the post.

Neither side managed to score again. At the final whistle, Argentina secured a resounding 3-0 victory thanks to Messi's two assists and one goal.

Image source: Internet