Leo Messi’s farewell appearance for Argentina against Benin was brought to a standstill in the 10th minute as the entire stadium and a fireworks display paid tribute to the talismanic forward.
Argentina’s iconic No 10 was visibly moved by the emotional outpouring, which he seemingly did not expect so early in the contest. Amid a tearful standing ovation, AFA president ‘Chiqui’ Tapia and manager Lionel Scaloni were both seen applauding warmly from the touchline.
Around two minutes after the tributes began, play finally resumed, albeit beneath a lingering haze of smoke drifting over the pitch. From a sporting perspective, the visitors held firm against Argentina, though the 2022 world champions retained a slight upper hand.
