Lionel Messi was bizarrely gifted a yellow and crimson card by the referee who took cost of his remaining recreation for Argentina.
The 39-year-old stated an emotional farewell to the nationwide group on Tuesday evening, scoring in a pleasant in opposition to Benin earlier than making a speech that left teammates and followers in tears.
Messi capped his 208th and remaining look for his nation with a objective and two assists as Argentina waved goodbye to its hero with a 3-0 win.
It was an evening of tearful tributes in Buenos Aires and Chilean official Fernando Vejar didn’t waste the possibility to provide Messi a parting present of his personal.
After handing over the match ball to the Argentina No 10, Vejar took out his yellow and crimson card and gave them to Messi, too.
The 39-year-old was then mobbed by teammates and opponents, one in every of whom requested for a clumsy selfie on the sphere.
Lionel Messi was bizarrely gifted a yellow and crimson card by the referee who took cost of his remaining recreation for Argentina
The 39-year-old legend stated an emotional farewell to the nationwide group on Tuesday evening
After handing over the match ball, Fernando Vejar gave Messi his yellow and crimson card
Following the sport, the tributes to Messi continued with an emotional musical efficiency earlier than Messi took the microphone himself.
‘My dad is the primary particular person I take into consideration tonight,’ he started, remembering his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 again in August.
‘I can solely thanks all. It has been an enormous delight to defend this shirt for over 20 years. We by no means stopped preventing, by no means stopped giving the whole lot. Taking part in for Argentina is essentially the most stunning factor.’
Messi’s speech left supporters and gamers comparable to Enzo Fernandez struggling to comprise their feelings.
‘I wish to thanks all of my teammates. You made all of my desires come true… I used to be surrounded by warriors. I will miss this,’ he continued.
‘This can be the saddest day of my profession, leaving the nationwide group. I do not wish to depart this place. I do not wish to depart the sphere… I really like all of you, and I’ll miss all of you. I’m proud to be Argentinian.’
The 39-year-old introduced down the curtain down on his worldwide profession after 21 years, 126 targets, two Copa America titles and a World Cup victory.
