Neymar posted a heartfelt Instagram tribute to Lionel Messi as the Argentine captain prepares for his last match in the national jersey.
Fans have savored your brilliance for years… Tonight you don the national shirt for the final time; enjoy every moment, and may today’s accolades bring you joy. The world thanks you, not just Argentina, for all you’ve given football. You deepened my love for the game; playing against you was an honor, sharing history alongside you even more so. THANK YOU Leo Messi
Messi will bid farewell to the Albiceleste on Tuesday night versus Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental in a friendly farewell. Kick‑off is set for 7 p.m. ET, and tickets vanished in under two hours.
Messi announced his international retirement on August 31, weeks after Argentina fell 1‑0 to Spain in the World Cup final. He isn’t alone; defender Nicolás Otamendi, who also quit after the North American tournament, will receive his own send‑off.
He departs with 207 appearances, 125 goals and 68 assists, cementing his status as Argentina’s most‑capped player and all‑time leading scorer. Six World Cups under his belt give him a record 34 matches, and his 21 goals sit second behind Kylian Mbappé’s 22.
The El Monumental will stage a massive farewell show for Messi, complete with artists, fireworks and surprise acts, with the full lineup now revealed.
His trophy cabinet also holds the 2021 and 2024 Copa América crowns, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and he logged 39 Copa América matches – the most ever in the tournament’s history.
Will future generations remember their camaraderie as the benchmark for football friendships?
Their decade‑long friendship feels inevitable; they grew together as teammates, shared titles and even a fierce rivalry that never strained their bond. In my view, their connection outshines any on‑field competition.
After four seasons apart, they reunited at PSG in 2021, forming a trio with Kylian Mbappé. The trio captured Ligue 1 twice and the Trophée des Champions in 2022, though the Champions League glory remained elusive before both departed in 2023.
Off the pitch they’re close, yet internationally they clashed in South America’s fiercest duel, Argentina vs. Brazil.
Their national sides met five times, with Argentina winning three and Brazil two. Most encounters were friendlies or qualifiers, but the highlight was the 2021 Copa América final at the Maracanã, a 1‑0 Argentine win that delivered Messi his first senior trophy. After the final whistle, Neymar embraced Messi in a viral moment, later chatting in the tunnel.
The embrace proved that, despite rivalry, Neymar celebrated his friend’s inaugural title with Argentina. Five years on, the Brazilian still honors Messi on the day he dons the Argentine shirt for the last time.