Lionel Messi has played his last match in international soccer, with Alexis Mac Allister among those to send a touching tribute to the Argentina icon after his farewell.
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi (R) smiles next to his teammate midfielder #20 Alexis Mac Allister as they warm up ahead of the international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin
Alexis Mac Allister has discussed Lionel Messi's international retirement(Image: (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images))
Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister has sent a touching tribute to Lionel Messi after the soccer icon waved farewell to the Argentina national team with one final match to mark his international retirement.
The 39-year-old has enjoyed quite the ride with the Albiceleste, making 208 appearances with 126 goals across an international career that has spanned over 20 years.
That has come with its ups and downs, coming so close, yet so far, in major tournaments throughout a major period of his career on the international stage.
A wait for a World Cup triumph was finally ended in 2022, with a victory over France coming in the final, which featured Mac Allister as a regular presence within the midfield ranks.
Success has followed, and it almost came about once again in the summer, though Argentina fell to defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, marking an emotional end to yet another campaign for the national team.
It also marked the end of an era, when Messi announced that he would be retiring from international soccer, as a clash with Benin over the extended September and October international break set the stage for an emotional farewell.
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The match ended in a 3-0 victory, with the Inter Miami star having the last say with a strike from the penalty spot that neatly rounded off his career on the international stage.
There were plenty of emotional scenes in the stadium on the night, as well as an outpouring of emotion online after the event. Mac Allister, who played alongside Messi 43 times for the nation, took to Instagram to pay tribute, as he said: "One last celebration, all together, just like you taught us from the beginning.
Alexis Mac Allister in action for Argentina against Benin.
Alexis Mac Allister in action for Argentina against Benin.(Image: Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)
"Thank you for letting us experience all these moments, for making us better every day, and for never giving up. You gave us everything; all that's left is to be grateful and remember. We're going to miss you, captain."
It was yet another emotional message set out by one of Messi's Argentina teammates, as the national team now looks ahead to a future without its icon.
Some changes will be expected, especially when filling such a huge void, and that includes who will be the captain in his absence, as well as who will be handed the legendary number ten jersey.
While it remains to be seen who will take up such roles, Argentina's media has tipped Mac Allister to take the jersey number, considering his position and standing in the team, while he currently wears the number 20.
That would be quite the honor for the Liverpool midfielder, who is likely to discover whether he will be the new number ten next month when Argentina meets up again for the November international break.