Photos of Messi playing his last game with Argentina

Sport

Photos of Messi playing his last game with Argentina

2026-10-07 11:37 Last Updated At：13:27

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi played his final match for Argentina before a packed Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, a friendly against Benin bringing his international career to a close.

Click to Gallery

A drone display featuring Argentina's Lionel Messi is seen at the end of his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Julian Bongiovanni)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, and Benin's Imourane Hassane battle for the ball during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans hold masks depicting Lionel Messi before his final match for Argentina, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi, 19, celebrates with teammate Argentina's Lionel Messi after scoring his side's opening goal, during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans stand beside a banner reading in Spanish, "The Malvinas are Argentine," referring to the Falkland Islands, before Lionel Messi's final match for Argentina, an international friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi controls the ball during his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts after his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Street artist Claudio Pampillon finishes a chalk portrait of Lionel Messi on the pavement outside the stadium before Messi's final match with the national team, an international friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Argentina's Lionel Messi stands for the national anthem during an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's third goal from the penalty spot during an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

A child looks at the statue of Argentina's Lionel Messi before an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

More Images

A drone display featuring Argentina's Lionel Messi is seen at the end of his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Julian Bongiovanni)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, and Benin's Imourane Hassane battle for the ball during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans hold masks depicting Lionel Messi before his final match for Argentina, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi, 19, celebrates with teammate Argentina's Lionel Messi after scoring his side's opening goal, during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans stand beside a banner reading in Spanish, "The Malvinas are Argentine," referring to the Falkland Islands, before Lionel Messi's final match for Argentina, an international friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi controls the ball during his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts after his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Street artist Claudio Pampillon finishes a chalk portrait of Lionel Messi on the pavement outside the stadium before Messi's final match with the national team, an international friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Argentina's Lionel Messi stands for the national anthem during an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's third goal from the penalty spot during an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

A child looks at the statue of Argentina's Lionel Messi before an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Padres avoid elimination, beat Brewers 4-3 in NLDS Game 3 with Cronenworth's HR, King's relief

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jake Cronenworth hit a tiebreaking homer, Game 1 starter Michael King pitched the final two innings and the San Diego Padres avoided playoff elimination with a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of their NL Division Series on Tuesday night.

Xander Bogaerts turned a game-ending double play at shortstop for the Padres, who trimmed Milwaukee’s lead in the best-of-five series to 2-1 with a tense, back-and-forth victory over the MLB-best Brewers.

Game 4 is Wednesday night at Petco Park. If necessary, Game 5 will be back in Milwaukee on Friday.

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado drove in early runs for the Padres, but their bullpen didn’t have star closer Mason Miller, who went on the paternity list about 45 minutes before the first pitch. King stepped up after pitching five innings just two days ago and finished it off — but only after a thrilling ninth.

King retired four of his first five batters, but William Contreras and Brice Turang drew one-out walks in the ninth. Christian Yelich then cracked a line drive up the middle, but Bogaerts went down to his knees to field it on a short hop and scampered to touch second before throwing out Yelich at first to end it.

King earned his first save since 2023, his first in the postseason and his first for the Padres.

Contreras homered and had three hits for the Brewers, who lost their 12th consecutive postseason road game in a streak dating to the 2018 NL Championship Series.

Yelich even got his first playoff RBI since 2018 with a seventh-inning single, but Milwaukee fell behind early and never led, leaving 11 runners on base.

Neither team had announced its Game 4 starter.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Photos of Messi playing his last game with Argentina

Sport

Photos of Messi playing his last game with Argentina

A drone display featuring Argentina's Lionel Messi is seen at the end of his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Julian Bongiovanni)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, and Benin's Imourane Hassane battle for the ball during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans hold masks depicting Lionel Messi before his final match for Argentina, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi, 19, celebrates with teammate Argentina's Lionel Messi after scoring his side's opening goal, during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans stand beside a banner reading in Spanish, "The Malvinas are Argentine," referring to the Falkland Islands, before Lionel Messi's final match for Argentina, an international friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi controls the ball during his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts after his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Street artist Claudio Pampillon finishes a chalk portrait of Lionel Messi on the pavement outside the stadium before Messi's final match with the national team, an international friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Argentina's Lionel Messi stands for the national anthem during an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's third goal from the penalty spot during an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

A child looks at the statue of Argentina's Lionel Messi before an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

A drone display featuring Argentina's Lionel Messi is seen at the end of his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Julian Bongiovanni)

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, and Benin's Imourane Hassane battle for the ball during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans hold masks depicting Lionel Messi before his final match for Argentina, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi, 19, celebrates with teammate Argentina's Lionel Messi after scoring his side's opening goal, during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans stand beside a banner reading in Spanish, "The Malvinas are Argentine," referring to the Falkland Islands, before Lionel Messi's final match for Argentina, an international friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi controls the ball during his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts after his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Street artist Claudio Pampillon finishes a chalk portrait of Lionel Messi on the pavement outside the stadium before Messi's final match with the national team, an international friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Argentina's Lionel Messi stands for the national anthem during an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's third goal from the penalty spot during an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

A child looks at the statue of Argentina's Lionel Messi before an international friendly soccer match against Benin, marking his farewell appearance for the national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Next Article

Padres avoid elimination, beat Brewers 4-3 in NLDS Game 3 with Cronenworth's HR, King's relief

Matthew Tkachuk scores, Brad Marchand injured in Panthers' 2-1 win over Kings

Netanyahu and his opponents are putting Oct. 7 at the heart of Israel's elections

Golden Knights beat Kraken 6-2 behind 2 goals each from Olofsson and Hertl

Okinawa governor wants discipline for US military in Japan after murder linked to Marine

Chile strikes twice after halftime to beat Mexico 2-0. Woes deepen for Márquez

Top draft pick Gavin McKenna picks up first NHL goal, assist for Toronto against Predators

Panthers forward Brad Marchand sustains left leg injury in second period against Kings