Lionel Messi scores in tearful 'last tango' for Argentina - ESPN

Lionel Messi marked his 208th and final game for Argentina with his 126th goal as his country bid an emotional farewell to the global icon.

Tuesday's friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires had been dubbed «the last tango» as Messi played his final game in international soccer after 21 years, two Copa América titles and a World Cup.

The script called for at least one more goal from Messi, and the 39-year-old duly delivered. With a wave of his left foot, he emphatically dispatched a penalty into the roof of the net in the 71st minute, cuing up the sold-out crowd at the Estadio Monumental to rejoice with a collective chant of «Messi, Messi.»

For a time, it appeared as though Messi might exit the stage without giving the crowd what they wanted most, after snatching at some earlier chances.

But Messi has always been more than just a goal scorer and he provided two assists for Argentina's other goals in a 3-0 win, delivering a corner for Nicolás Otamendi to head in in the 48th minute and supplying a pass for Nico Paz to curl impressively into the net.

The emotion of the occasion was evident before kickoff.

Messi was pictured in tears as the Argentina team bus made its way through the throngs of fans lining the route to the Estadio Monumental. And more tears flowed, from both Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni, as the Argentinian anthem sounded for the final time with Messi part of the lineup.

Further evidence that the game was secondary on this night came when the action paused in the 10th minute as the whole stadium applauded Argentina's legendary No. 10, while Benin players took turns shaking Messi's hand.

Messi announced his international retirement in the weeks following the World Cup final loss to Spain, saying, «The time has