All eyes will be on the Estadio Más Monumental on Tuesday night as Argentina take on Benin in what will be no ordinary friendly. Lionel Messi, the greatest player of this generation and some of all time, will play his last match with him. Albiceleste. A magnificent international career that began in 2005 will end after 21 years.
As the soccer world bids farewell to Messi’s international career, let’s take a look back at his Argentina career by the numbers.
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1 – At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi won the world cup after Argentina beat France on penalties.
2 – The Copa America was won by Messi as he led Argentina to the continental title in 2021 and 2024. It also equals the number of Ballon d’Ors he has won as the best player of the tournament at World Cups (2014, 2022).
3 – Argentina reached the final of the world championship with Messi. They lost to Germany in 2014 and Spain in 2026.
5 – Messi’s most goals against Estonia in 2022. In the history of the Argentine men’s national team, this feat was equaled by Juan Marvezzi (against Ecuador in 1941) and Jose Manuel Moreno (against Ecuador in 1942).
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6 – Total number of World Cups won by Argentina with Messi. He made his debut in 2006 and is tied with Cristiano Ronaldo for most of the male players.
11 – Number of hat-tricks scored by Messi in the international arena. He met Switzerland for the first time in 2012. The last time was against Algeria in WC-2026.
18 – Messi’s jersey number when he made his debut for Argentina against Hungary in 2005.
21 – Messi’s World Cup goals as Argentina reached their second consecutive final, seven in 2022 and eight this past summer.
25 – Messi’s number of penalty kicks out of 125 international goals. He also holds the World Cup record for most penalty kicks conceded (3) in the tournament.
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47 – Length of Messi’s Argentina debut in 2005 in seconds. After coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 win over Hungary, Messi responded to a pull from Vilmos Wanczak by throwing his goal back and charging at a full-back to earn a straight red card.
125 – Messi’s international goals tally is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 146 with Portugal.
208 – Messi’s total number of games against Argentina after Tuesday’s friendly against Benin.
2009 – The year Messi took the number 10 shirt after Juan Román Riquelme’s international retirement.
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2016 – Year of Messi’s first international retirement. After the Copa América Centenario penalty kick loss to Chile – Argentina’s third consecutive major final loss – he made an emotional decision to walk away. Two months later, after pleas from teammates and fans, he opted to return to the national team.
7720 – The number of days between Messi’s debut for Argentina at the age of 18 and his last match for his country at the age of 39.