MESSI SAYS GOODBYE TO ARGENTINA WITH A GOAL AND TWO ASSISTS

Lionel Messi played his 208th and final game for Argentina on Tuesday, and his version of a goodbye was personally touching all three goals in a 3-0 win over Benin. He swung in the corner Nicolás Otamendi headed home in the 48th, set up Nico Paz in the 61st, then buried a left-foot penalty into the roof of the net in the 71st. That was career goal 126, in front of 85,000 at the Monumental, with fireworks and a drone show, because a handshake and a plaque apparently would not do. He is 39 and played the full 90. He also led the match with nine shots and five on target, and hit the post late while chasing a fourth. Benin flew to Buenos Aires for a farewell and spent two hours as the piñata. Their coach, Gernot Rohr, said afterward he was deeply disappointed with how his squad was treated. Messi leaves holding both records that matter in Argentina, 208 caps and 126 goals, along with the 2022 World Cup and two Copa Américas. Twenty-one years ago he came on as a sub against Hungary and got sent off almost immediately. Tuesday he got a solitary lap of the field and 85,000 people chanting his name.

Why you should give a shit: International Messi is finished after 21 years, whoever wears Argentina's 10 next inherits a World Cup, a record book he will never touch, and a country that will mention both to him every single week.