BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Lionel Messi expressed gratitude to Argentina's fans on Thursday as he confirmed his decision to retire from international football will not be reversed.
The 39-year-old marked his 208th and final appearance for Argentina by scoring his 126th goal in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin on Tuesday.
"Everything has been said. And now, everything is done," he said in a social media post. "The only words that come from my heart are: thank you, Argentina."
Messi announced his retirement plans in August following the death of his father, Jorge, and just weeks after Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final.
More than 80,000 fans attended his farewell match at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The occasion included a pause in the 10th minute to applaud the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and a drone show after the match that paid tribute to his 21-year international career.
Messi, Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most capped player, led the national team to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title and two Copa America triumphs.
He will continue playing at club level for Inter Miami, where his contract runs through December 2028. ■
