Billionaire Soccer Legend Lionel Messi Plays Final Game For Argentina—See Photos

Soccer legend Lionel Messi, considered one of the sport’s greatest players of all time, played his final game for Argentina on Tuesday night as his team secured a 3-0 win against Benin in a friendly in Buenos Aires.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his third goal from the penalty spot during his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires.

Messi scored the final goal in the 71st minute from the penalty box after helping set up the first two goals.

Tuesday night’s game was Messi’s 208th appearance for the Argentinian team, the second-highest number of international appearances by any player behind only his long-time arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

More than 85,000 fans packed the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires to see the legend play his final game for Argentina—after tickets sold out in just 90 minutes after bookings opened.

Before the game began, a giant Argentina soccer jersey was unfurled on the field with Messi’s number 10 and the word “Gracias” written on top.

Messi was visibly emotional as he addressed the fans after the game, where he mentioned the recent death of his father.

The Argentine legend told the crowd that it has been a huge pride for him to “wear this shirt” for over 20 years and said he wished he could keep doing this his whole life.

1. That is the total number of international goals Messi has scored for the Argentine senior men’s team, the second-highest in international football history, behind Ronaldo’s 146 goals for Portugal.

According to Forbes’ estimates, Messi’s fortune is worth around $1.1 billion, making him one of the richest athletes in the world. Messi was added to Forbes’ billionaires list in June this year after earning $70 million on the field last season and an additional $70 million from endorsement deals. His billionaire status is built on the cash he accumulated throughout his career and his option to acquire an equity stake in his MLS club, Inter Miami, after he retires. Messi is only the fourth athlete to reach billionaire status, after Ronaldo, golfer Tiger Woods, and NBA superstar LeBron James.

In a post on X earlier on Tuesday, Argentinian President Javier Millei wrote: “Thank you very much, Lionel Messi, for all the magic you have given us on and off the field, showing the world that with hard work it is possible to achieve even the impossible. Messi is impossible…!!!” After the game Millei tweeted: “Thank you very much, Lionel Messi…!!! The greatest of all time, by far.”

Lionel Messi celebrates with teammate Nicolas Otamendi after he scored his side’s opening goal.

This was Messi’s 208th appearance in an international game, more than any other player except his arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Around 85,000 people attended Messi’s final game.

A giant t-shirt with Lionel Messi’s number 10 is displayed on the ground with the word Gracias.

A drone display featuring Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s jersey is seen at the end of his final match.

A drone display featuring Argentina’s Lionel Messi is seen at the end of his final match for the national team.

Fans hold masks depicting Lionel Messi before his final match for Argentina.

Street artist Claudio Pampillon finishes a chalk portrait of Lionel Messi on the pavement outside the stadium before Messi’s final match.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com