Messi scores and assists twice in final Argentina appearance
publishers 63articles 91first reported 5 Oct, 09:30 UTCdeveloping since 5 Oct · 15 editions
Lionel Messi ended his 21-year Argentina career with a goal and two assists as the national team defeated Benin 3-0 in a farewell match at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium.
After a goalless first half, Messi delivered the corner before fellow veteran Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring. He then set up Nico Paz for Argentina’s second goal in the 61st minute before converting a penalty in the 71st.
The 39-year-old made his record-extending 208th senior appearance and finished with 126 international goals, also an Argentina record. More than 80,000 spectators attended a ceremony-filled evening that included a giant Argentina shirt bearing the word “Gracias,” ovations and a post-match drone display.
“It was a tremendous honour to wear this jersey for over 20 years,” Messi said in remarks reported by the Argentine Football Association, adding that playing for Argentina was “the most wonderful thing that can happen to you.” On Wednesday, he wrote on Instagram that he already missed wearing the national shirt but said he was taking the right decision.
Messi’s international honours include the 2022 World Cup, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, the 2022 Finalissima and Olympic gold in 2008. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi leaves “an incredible legacy,” while former Barcelona teammate Neymar thanked him for what he had done for football.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 72 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 63
- Source articles
- 91
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 72 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: Correct the match timing, the sequence of Otamendi's goal, and the Instagram wording to match the sources. - "Lionel Messi ended his 21-year Argentina career with a goal and two assists as the national team defeated Benin 3-0 in a farewell match at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on Tuesday.": The Punch says the match was played on October 6, while the story's date context and other sources indicate Tuesday was not October 6; using Tuesday risks an incorrect date. - "After a goalless first half, Messi delivered the corner from which fellow veteran Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring.": This wording says Otamendi scored directly from Messi's corner, but RTÉ and The Punch report Otamendi scored after Benin failed to clear the corner. - "On Wednesday, he wrote on Instagram that he already missed wearing the national shirt but believed retirement was the right decision.": The source quotes Messi saying he was taking the right decision, not that he believed retirement was the right decision.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Messi scores and assists twice in final Argentina appearance
Lionel Messi ended his 21-year Argentina career with a goal and two assists as the national team defeated Benin 3-0 in a farewell match at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on Tuesday.Stadium.
After a goalless first half, Messi delivered the corner from whichbefore fellow veteran Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring. He then set up Nico Paz for Argentina’s second goal in the 61st minute before converting a penalty in the 71st.
The 39-year-old made his record-extending 208th senior appearance and finished with 126 international goals, also an Argentina record. More than 80,000 spectators attended a ceremony-filled evening that included a giant Argentina shirt bearing the word “Gracias,” ovations and a post-match drone display.
“It was a tremendous honour to wear this jersey for over 20 years,” Messi said in remarks reported by the Argentine Football Association, adding that playing for Argentina was “the most wonderful thing that can happen to you.” On Wednesday, he wrote on Instagram that he already missed wearing the national shirt but believedsaid retirementhe was taking the right decision.
Messi’s international honours include the 2022 World Cup, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, the 2022 Finalissima and Olympic gold in 2008. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi leaves “an incredible legacy,” while former Barcelona teammate Neymar thanked him for what he had done for football.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →