But the Argentine superstar had another unusual
moment after the final whistle.
As teammates and fans gathered around Messi to
celebrate his farewell, the referee handed him a yellow card and a red card as
a memento of his final international appearance.
The cards were not issued as punishments.
Instead, they were presented as symbolic gifts to mark the end of Messi's long
international career.
The unusual gesture quickly spread across social
media, prompting fans to joke that Messi had received both a "red and
yellow" card in his final match for Argentina.
The cards, normally symbols of a warning and a
sending-off in football, took on a different meaning on an emotional night for
the Argentine icon.
Yet it was Messi's performance that remained the
biggest story of the evening. He scored once and provided two assists as
Argentina secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Benin.
The victory brought an end to Messi's long journey in the Argentina shirt, while the referee's unusual farewell gift added a light-hearted and memorable touch to the occasion.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Published Date : October 7, 2026
