🐐 Messi's last night: a goal, an assist, tears and a drone fiasco😂

🐐 Messi's last night: a goal, an assist, tears and a drone fiasco😂 Lionel Messi bid farewell to Argentina in the best possible way : as the star of the show. At the Monumental, in front of around 85,000 spectators , the Flea played his final match for the Albiceleste , ending the night with a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin . It was a celebration arranged to honor the captain, making his final appearance for the national team after 21 years. It was a particularly emotional night for Leo, not least because of the absence of his father Jorge, who passed away last August. Messi walked onto the pitch with his three children as the national anthem played, and was visibly moved during the opening minutes of the match. In the stands, alongside the Argentine supporters, were fans who had traveled from various countries to witness the number 10's final appearance. Even before kickoff, as the bus arrived, Argentina's number 10 was overcome with emotion at the outpouring of affection from his people. ⚽️ The match The first half was anything but straightforward for Argentina. Messi struggled at times, misplaying a few passes and wasting a good chance. Benin , ranked 93rd by FIFA, played with confidence, keeping the score at 0-0 and causing Scaloni's side some problems. Among their biggest threats was Junior Olaitan , Besiktas's attacking midfielder. After the break, however, Messi took control of the match. In the 48th minute, his corner set up a goal for Otamendi, who was also playing his final game for Argentina . In the 61st minute , he delivered his second assist, this time for Nico Paz , who scored with a stunning long-range strike. Finally, in the 71st minute, Messi capped off his evening by firing a penalty into the top corner. Along the way, he also hit the post and missed other chances. 😒 The drone fiasco During the 90 minutes, spectators were also treated to a series of images created by drones. Some were well received, such as an image of Leo holding the World Cup that appeared in the Buenos Aires sky. Others, however, drew a less enthusiastic response... Just ask Sancor Seguros , whose marketing stunt went viral, probably not in the way the company had intended. At a deeply emotional moment, everyone at the Monumental had their eyes on the drones as they began to move. The crowd expected them to form more images of Messi, but instead the company's logo appeared, greeted by boos and the foulest insults from all around the stadium! 🙇‍♂️ A night dedicated to the number 10 The Monumental had prepared a full-blown celebration for its captain. Before the match, a giant number 10 shirt bearing the word “Gracias” appeared in the center of the stadium, accompanied by chants, light shows and fireworks. Benin also wanted to pay tribute to Messi. During the exchange of pennants, captain Sessi D'Almeida presented him with a golden statuette inspired by the Dahomey Amazons, along with a letter. Then came the final whistle, the tears and the last goodbyes. Messi thus ends his Argentina career with 208 appearances, 126 goals and 67 assists , along with the major trophies won in the Albiceleste's recent history. An era that began 21 years ago comes to an end , with the Monumental celebrating its number 10 one last time. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.