Don't Miss

ENG

Cricket
Football
NDTV Podcast
Formula 1
Tennis
Golf
Badminton
- Kabaddi
- Boxing
- Athletics
- Chess
- Swimming
- Shooting
- Wrestling
- Table tennis
- Othersports
- NFL
- NBA
- NHL
- US Streamers
- MMA
- WWE

Dark / Light mode

Oct 8,2026 06:19 PM IST

Retirement Loading: Lionel Messi In Tears As He Plays His Final Game In Argentina

facebook

twitter

Settings

Change Font Size

A A
Change Language

हिंदी | Hindi
Focus on Story

Select Language

Languages
हिंदी | Hindi

Dark / Light mode

Featured Links
Featured Sports
- Cricket
- Football
- Formula 1
- Tennis
- Hockey
- Golf
- Badminton
More Sports
- Kabaddi
- Boxing
- Athletics
- Chess
- Swimming
- Shooting
- Wrestling
- Table tennis
- Othersports
More from NDTV
- NDTV
- Business
- Hindi
- Movies
- Cricket
- Health
- Food
- Tech
- Auto
- Apps
- Trains

Football

Scores
EPL 2026-27
ISL 2025-2026
News
Features
Fixtures
Results
Leagues
Blogs
More
- Photos
- Videos
- Teams
- Players

arrow-down reddit snapchat twitter facebook comments email printer search bell top-nav reddit-fill snapchat-fill twitter-fill facebook-fill share whatsapp-fill bookmark arrow-rgt arrow-next arrow-up refresh close link cog star book zap cricket football tennis formula-1 badminton hockey golf boxing ndtv-n check left-arrow right-arrow

Live Cricket Matches

Cricket Matches
Football Matches
All Matches

India Matches

IPL 2026

Football Matches

Cricket Matches
Football Matches
All Matches

ISL

EPL

All Matches

Cricket Matches
Football Matches
All Matches

India Matches

EPL

Sports Home Football News Retirement Loading Lionel Messi In Tears As He Plays His Final Game In Argentina

Story ProgressBack to home

Retirement Loading: Lionel Messi In Tears As He Plays His Final Game In Argentina

Lionel Messi is expected to call time on his international career after the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Written by NDTV Sports Desk, Edited by Sahil Bakshi
Updated: April 01, 2026 07:46 am IST

Read Time: 2 min

facebook

twitter

E-mail

Lionel Messi in tears during his final game on home soil© X (Twitter)

In his final game at home, an emotional Lionel Messi struggled to hold back tears as he lined up with his teammates for the last time on Argentinian soil on Tuesday. Messi's Argentina faced Zambia at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires in a friendly, with the former Barcelona star scoring one goal and setting up another. Argentina went on to thrash Zambia 5-0, before beginning the defence of their World Cup crown. Messi, restored to the starting line-up by coach Lionel Scaloni after Argentina's lacklustre win over Mauritania last Friday, made an instant impact in Tuesday's friendly at La Bombonera.

The 38-year-old superstar set up the opening goal for Julián Álvarez before bagging his 116th goal for Argentina with an individual strike just before half-time. Tuesday's game marked a World Cup send-off for the reigning champions, who will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J of the finals in June.

As Messi stood with his teammates on the pitch, the crowd's songs and chants moved him to tears. In a video that surfaced on social media, the Inter Miami forward could be seen wiping his eyes, realising it was the last time he would play in front of his home fans. Here's the video:

Deeply emotional scenes unfolding in Argentina

Lionel Messi is currently playing what is expected to be his LAST match with the national team on Argentine soil.

The final chapter at home for the greatest of all time before the 2026 World Cup. This one really hurts.… pic.twitter.com/yW8WaYYxyi

— Topskills Sports UK (@topskillsportuk) April 1, 2026

Argentina will also play a friendly against Serbia in June and are seeking to arrange another warm-up fixture before the tournament.

Messi is firmly expected to captain Argentina into what will be a record sixth World Cup finals as the South American giants target back-to-back titles.

The Inter Miami playmaker once again demonstrated his enduring influence on the Albiceleste with a typically decisive contribution in a comfortable win.

Álvarez fired Argentina into the lead after just four minutes when Messi effortlessly controlled a lofted pass on the edge of the area and threaded a ball into the feet of the Atlético Madrid striker to score.

Messi doubled Argentina's lead with the 902nd goal of his career two minutes before half-time, working a clever one-two with Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister before tucking a low finish past Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza.

Messi could have added to his tally just after half-time when Argentina were awarded a penalty following Albert Kangwanda's foul on Thiago Almada.

But rather than take the spot-kick himself, Messi handed the ball to veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi, and the 38-year-old made no mistake from the spot to make it 3-0.

An own goal from Dominic Chanda in the 68th minute put Argentina 4-0 up, before rising star Valentín Barco completed the scoring in stoppage time to seal a 5-0 victory.

With AFP Inputs

Featured Video Of The Day

India Ends CWG Boxing Campaign With Record-Breaking Seven Gold Medals

Topics mentioned in this article

Argentina Football

Get the Latest Cricket, Asian Games 2026, Football , Hockey, Badminton Scores, F1 Results at NDTV Sports. Like Us On Facebook Or Follow Us On Twitter For More Sports Updates. You Can Also Download The NDTV Cricket App For Android Or iOS.

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Players - Top Goals

EPL Players - Top Goals
EPL Players - Top Assists
EPL Teams - Top Goals
EPL Teams - Top Assists

Player Matches Goals Haaland Haaland Manchester City 5 5 Isak Isak Liverpool 5 4 Groß Groß Brighton & Hove Albion 5 3 B. Fernandes Manchester United 5 3 Marcus Tavernier AFC Bournemouth 5 3

Player Matches Assists Groß Groß Brighton & Hove Albion 5 3 Daichi Daichi Crystal Palace 5 3 Gakpo Gakpo Liverpool 5 3 Semenyo Semenyo Manchester City 5 3 Francisco Evanilson AFC Bournemouth 5 3

No Teams MP Goals GA 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 5 16 5 2 Manchester City 5 13 5 3 Brentford 5 10 4 4 Chelsea Chelsea 5 10 12 5 Newcastle United 5 9 9

No Teams MP Goals Assists 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 5 16 11 2 Manchester City 5 13 10 3 Chelsea Chelsea 5 10 9 4 Newcastle United 5 9 8 5 Arsenal Arsenal 5 8 6

Full Stats

Related Articles

Retirement Loading: Lionel Messi In Tears As He Plays His Final Game In Argentina

Lionel Messi is expected to call time on his international career after the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Featured Video Of The Day

Now Trending