Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career on Wednesday, scoring once and setting up two more goals as Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in a friendly before a packed Monumental stadium.

The 39-year-old captain’s final appearance, watched by more than 85,000 fans, was less a football match than a national celebration of his service to the national team. Landmarks across the capital glowed in Argentina’s sky blue and white, and fireworks lit the sky above the stadium as supporters sang the national anthem.

“It’s hard to talk,” said Messi, whose family watched from the stands alongside Argentina’s World Cup winners of 1978, 1986 and 2022. “There are a lot of emotions, a lot of things going through my head. The first thing I think about is my old man,” he added, referring to the recent death of his father.

“It was a huge source of pride for me to wear this shirt all this time, more than 20 years. Not coming anymore is going to hurt a lot. I swear, I’d love to keep coming my whole life, because playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you.”

Hours earlier, a giant No. 10 shirt emblazoned with “Gracias” was unfurled at the National Flag Memorial in Rosario, Messi’s hometown. Thousands lined the route as the team bus left the training centre that bears his name, and Messi wiped away tears.

Benin’s captain appeared lost for words as he handed Messi a gift and a letter during the pre-match handshake.

After a goalless first half, Messi supplied the assist for Nicolas Otamendi to tap home the opener. Otamendi shared 17 years with Messi in the national team, including four World Cups, and was also ending his international career. Messi then set up Nico Paz, one of the players seen as a potential successor to the No. 10 shirt, for the second.

He converted a penalty for 3-0, his 126th international goal, prompting another round of “Messi, Messi” chants.

At the final whistle, teammates, opponents and the referee gathered around him for embraces before a drone show lit up the sky. The Argentine singer Soledad Pastorutti, known as “La Sole”, then sang her signature “Brindis” as part of a tribute to Messi and his journey with the national team.

Messi leaves as Argentina’s most-capped player with 208 appearances, and its record scorer, having transformed years of frustration on the international stage into World Cup and Copa America triumphs.

For years, Argentina asked Messi to deliver. Today, it simply came to say thank you.