Argentina fans honour Messi’s No 10 as captain becomes emotional in Benin friendly

Lionel Messi was moved to tears before and during Argentina’s friendly against Benin on Wednesday as supporters paid tribute to the captain and his international career.

Messi began crying while inside the Argentina team bus after seeing the large reception awaiting the squad. Fans chanted in celebration of the forward and his achievements with the national team, creating an emotional atmosphere before kick-off.

The Argentina captain was visibly overcome again during the national anthem. His reaction was shared by manager Lionel Scaloni, who also appeared affected by the significance of the occasion.

The match took on an added sense of ceremony as supporters marked Messi’s career through the number he has worn throughout his time with Argentina. Play was stopped in the 10th minute, prompting chants from the stands in recognition of his famous shirt number.

The No 10 has been central to Messi’s international story, which includes Argentina’s Copa America success and the 2022 World Cup triumph. It was given particular prominence during the Benin friendly, with the crowd using the moment to celebrate the captain’s contribution to the national team.

The occasion combined the supporters’ celebration with Messi’s visible emotion, turning the fixture into a memorable night for the experienced Argentina forward. The number 10 once again became the focus inside the stadium as fans acknowledged the place Messi holds in the country’s football history.

TyC Sports posted a video of the emotional scenes on social media with the caption: “NO PUEDO MAS 😭🥺” (“I can’t take it anymore”).