For once, there was nothing special about Leo Messi. He was just as imperfect as any of his teammates and as fallible as any human in attendance at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, and the millions watching from across the world as Argentina took on Benin in a friendly.
As he played his farewell game in the famous blue and white of the Argentine national team, the many golden memories – the 2021 Copa America title, ending his nation’s 28-year wait for a major trophy, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the crowning jewel – must have replayed in his beautiful brain.
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At some point, it must have overwhelmed his conviction and clouded his vision as curtains slowly came down on a storied career of two decades that has placed him in the pantheon of football immortals.
He converted a penalty (71) and assisted the other two goals scored by Nicolas Otamendi (48) and Nico Paz (61) in a 3-0 win. For any other footballer that’s a perfect statistical display, worthy of the match ball. Messi, though, is different. An easy goal from the spot or a couple of casual assists would not satiate him, not least on a historic night when life on the pitch came full circle for the boy from Rosario.
Messi missed a handful of chances and misfired three freekicks, including one that was conveniently placed just outside the box, virtually the last kick of the match, with almost the entire stadium on its heels. Those misses were uncharacteristic of him.
As he walked out of the tunnel for a last time in Argentina colours, his three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, walked alongside. His teammates were also accompanied by their children. Emotions ran high during the national anthem, with coach Lionel Scaloni in tears. Messi, too, was emotional. For the others in the squad, it was a reunion, celebrating their most illustrious teammate, to whom, most of them owe their careers, the likes of veteran defender Otamendi, goalkeeper Emi Martinez and midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovanni Lo Celso, who featured in the match.
In Benin, the Argentine Football Association had the right opposition that could keep the tie friendly yet competitive. Despite being ranked a lowly 89th and without a World Cup appearance, Benin play a fearless style of football under their German coach Gernot Rohr. It was the perfect setting for an occasion that demanded excitement and goals. But Benin outdid themselves and almost ruined a special moment that was planned for the 10th minute of the match to celebrate the iconic No 10.
As the Benin players passed the ball around and refused to part with it, the tenth minute almost flew by. An Argentine midfielder had to press and steal the ball before putting it out of play for the referee to sound the whistle and signal a minute of standing ovation for their captain.
Messi had his first moment in the 7th minute when he tried to caress the ball into the bottom corner, like he’s done countless times throughout his career. He took an extra touch to get away from Sessi D'Almeida but hit a tame shot within the saving range of Marcel Dandjinou in the Benin goal. In the 18th minute he missed the target from close range after getting himself to the end of a tempting cross. He missed a sitter as he slid in to collect a lofted ball from Julian Alvarez. He tested Dandjinou a second time but the shot lacked power and was parried away.
In between, Hassane Imourane stole the ball cleanly from Messi with a tackle that was met with oohs from the crowd. A few minutes later, Lautaro Martínez found him arriving at the far post and swung in a low cross. Messi got a good connection but the ball spun out. At the other end, Junior Olaitan almost scored from a break as the first half ended goalless.
Argentina returned from the break with greater purpose and were rewarded within minutes. Otamendi was left unmarked in the box and hammered home a Messi corner. The 38-year-old defender, who was also making his final appearance for Argentina, received a standing ovation when he was substituted shortly afterwards.
Messi got his second freekick in the 58th minute after being pulled down by Mohamed Tijani. This freekick was more central and closer than the previous one. Yet he could not beat the goalkeeper, who read the flight of the ball and palmed it away.
While he stood on his mark, poised to shoot the freekick, a pair of substitutions were made. One of the arrivals was young attacker Nico Paz, wearing No 18, and the highest in the pecking order to inherit Messi’s coveted No 10 jersey. Within a couple of minutes, Paz got his name on the scoresheet with a sumptuous curler, the kind of which the world had hoped to watch being launched from Messi’s wand of a left foot.
The two goals disrupted Benin’s rhythm and errors began to creep into their game. Tamimou Ouorou, eager to reach a loose ball inside the box, fouled Agustin Giay. There was no doubt who would take the resulting penalty. Messi waited with the ball in his hands for nearly a minute as Ouorou received treatment. Then he stepped up and made no mistake, sending the spot-kick into the top corner.
He could have bagged a brace and it was arguably the easiest of the opportunities he wasted. Messi could not direct a cut back goalward, missing the target from six yards. Those witnessing were in disbelief but such was the occasion and no one seemed to complain.
Scaloni made eight substitutions, and at various points many wondered if Messi’s number would come up because that would have been quite a goodbye. It never did. Meanwhile, Messi kept searching for that elusive goal from open play; for that one moment of magic; a glimpse of an opening that presents endless possibilities that mere mortals barely visualise. He came close in the 88th minute, striking from out the box. There was power, but once again the shot lacked the precision that had been his trademark. Substitute goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe got a hand to it, pushing the ball onto the post and wide.
In the final minute, his counterpart D'Almeida did Messi one last favour by fouling him on the edge of the box. If this was scripted, it was the perfect one. The stage was set and the Monumental readied itself for the moment. Messi sent it over. There was no magical ending to a blessed Argentine career that spanned 208 matches and produced 126 goals.
At 17, when he made his senior debut and received a red card after just 47 seconds against Hungary in Budapest, who would have thought he would emulate the great Diego Maradona. For 21 years, he made the impossible look routine. From a curious boy, he grew into a man, a myth and a God? If he was indeed a God, he was one in flesh and blood.
