Tears are guaranteed at the farewell of the living legend.
Argentina's friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning (1:00 AM CEST) will mark a farewell for Lionel Messi, who has provided unforgettable moments not only for Argentine fans.
It marks the end of a 21-year journey, at the beginning of which the multiple World Player of the Year flew under the radar in his homeland and had to gradually earn the affection of his compatriots.
"From the moment he steps onto the Monumental, it will be an unforgettable day for everyone," predicted Argentina's national team coach Lionel Scaloni. Anyone who remembers the tearful farewell from his beloved Spanish club FC Barcelona in the summer of 2021, also after 21 years, will be able to imagine how emotional Messi's farewell in Argentina could be now.
Before, during, and after his 208th appearance for Argentina in a special jersey with a golden back number. "One last time. A jersey for life," wrote the eight-time World Player of the Year, who was accompanied to Argentina by his wife, children, and mother.
AFA had Messi off the radar for a long time
At 13 years old, Messi had already joined FC Barcelona's youth academy in 2000, but the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had not had the prodigy, who had emigrated from Rosario with his family, on their radar for a long time.
Not even at the 2003 U17 World Cup, when Argentina lost the semi-final 3-2 to Spain. Spain's double goalscorer Cesc Fabregas, then Messi's teammate at La Masia, is said to have told Argentine delegates afterwards: "You lost because we have your best player at Barca and he is a genius."
When the AFA finally set out to "bring home" the prodigal son, it was not without hitches. For example, the AFA reportedly inquired with Barca about a certain "Mecci" with a supposedly Italian-sounding name.
However, hurdles like these were overcome, and in 2004 Messi made his debut for the Albiceleste U20 team. But skepticism remained. At the 2005 U20 World Cup in the Netherlands, Messi started on the bench when Argentina lost their opening match.
First national team retirement in 2016
"There was strong resistance to calling up a boy who didn't play in the country," recounted Messi biographer Sergio Levinsky. Later, he was criticized for not being able to replicate his club form, and some fans called him "pecho frio" - someone lacking heart or fire.
But the love grew. After the lost Copa América final in 2016, his fourth at a major event, Messi frustratedly retired from the team, and the public promptly urged his return.
No one would regret Messi's decision to continue. Six years later, after Argentina's first World Cup title in 36 years, the former FC Barcelona great had also built a monument to himself in the national team, which amounted to a crowning achievement of his long career.
It almost worked out a second time this year at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Only in the final against Spain - Messi's second home - was it the end of the road.
Farewell this time is final
Unlike his national team retirement ten years ago, this time it will be a final farewell. "It was a decision that hurt my soul and still does, but I understand that it is time," Messi had explained at the end of August.
The lost World Cup final, and thus the shattered dream of a successful title defense, followed by the death of his father Jorge at just 68 years old, had made the 39-year-old reflective and contributed to his decision to take this decisive step.
"There remains a melancholy that he will no longer be part of it. And not just from a footballing perspective," Scaloni said. However, Messi, after whom the association's training center in Ezeiza near Buenos Aires is named, will certainly not yet disappear from the world stage of football.
His contract with Inter Miami is still valid until the end of 2028. In any case, he has long since ushered in his next phase of life. His portfolio includes a small empire: a hotel chain, real estate, and also two Spanish football clubs.
