The moment football fans around the world dreaded has finally arrived. The legendary Lionel Messi landed in Argentina on Friday to lace up his boots one last time for his beloved national team.
Messi will feature in a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires this Tuesday his final appearance in the famous Albiceleste jersey he wore so proudly for 21 unforgettable years. The Argentine Football Association made sure to set up this match to give "the best player in the world the home send-off he truly deserves."
After announcing his international retirement on August 31, Messi flew in from Miami with his family with touching down in his hometown of Rosario. Tears and cheers will surely flood the stadium as several of his 2022 World Cup-winning brothers join him on the pitch for one last celebration. Sadly, teammates Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina won't be there after Roma refused to release them.
It's the end of a magical era. Messi leaves behind a breathtaking legacy 125 goals, a glorious 2022 World Cup trophy and three World Cup final appearances that defined a generation.
He won't be playing in Argentina's other fixtures this week including Saturday's clash against Burkina Faso. Tuesday night is purely about saying thank you to the kid from Rosario who gave his heart to an entire nation.
