Lionel Messi Reacts to Argentina Retirement After Final Match, 'Saddest Day of My Career'

Lionel Messi's iconic national career came to an end on Tuesday.

The soccer legend played his final game with Argentina, scoring in a 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires. He addressed the crowd afterward, calling the match the "saddest day" of his career.

"Now, inevitably, I face the saddest day of my career: saying goodbye to the national team," he said, per ESPN . "Goodbye to all of you. I'm going to miss you; I'm going to miss defending the national team's colors, but now I'll be right there alongside you, supporting these guys and everyone who comes after them. Always, always united."

Messi played 208 games with Argentina across 21 years, winning a World Cup in 2022 and leading the team to a pair of Copa América titles.

"I would love to keep coming back forever, because playing for the Argentine national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you. The most beautiful thing," Messi said.

Messi announced his retirement in August, just over a month after he led Argentina to a World Cup Final against Spain.

Messi finishes his career with the most goals and caps in the history of the Argentina national team. He'll continue his playing career with Inter Miami this year, but his international career has now come to an end.

"I experienced one of the happiest days of my career here, the day we returned for our first match after the World Cup," he said. "I will never forget what I witnessed that day; it was the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me."