Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Two giants who have been compared to each other throughout their careers. Two icons who both top the list of the best players in football history (depending on how you look at it). Now both should have a dignified end to their international careers. But where Ronaldo finishes with a full-blown argument, Messi finishes in style.
On Wednesday evening, the Argentine 39-year-old was praised when Argentina visited Benin in a friendly match at home in Buenos Aires. Messi contributed two assists and a goal in Argentina’s 3-0 victory.
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Messi thus ended his Argentine national team career with a wild 126 goals in 208 games, this in front of 85,000 in the stands at the Monumental Stadium. Here there was a big party for the national hero before, during and after the match.
After the final whistle, Messi took the floor and gave a speech to the attendees.
“I have trouble finding words. There are a lot of emotions and a lot going through my head. The first thing I think about is my father. It has been a great pride for me to wear this shirt all this time, for more than 20 years,” says an emotional Messi according to Reuters.
An entire football world thanks for the entertainment.
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