Messi Ends Argentina Career With Farewell Win

The University of Buenos Aires awarded Lionel Messi an honorary doctorate, its highest honorary distinction, shortly before his farewell international match for Argentina against Benin. Messi ended his 21-year Argentina career with a 3-0 win at Buenos Aires’ Monumental stadium before more than 85,000 fans, assisting goals by Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz before scoring a penalty. He finished as Argentina’s record scorer with 126 goals and most-capped player with 208 appearances. Tributes from teammates, former players and fans celebrated a career that brought Argentina a World Cup and two Copa América titles. Messi said representing Argentina had been a profound source of pride and that stepping away would be painful; he is retiring from international duty, not from football altogether. The university cited his perseverance, humility, leadership, influence as an ambassador for Argentina, sporting achievements and charitable work through the Leo Messi Foundation.