Lionel Messi scored one and assisted the other two in his last appearance for Argentina in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at Estadio Monumental.

The 39-year-old announced in August he would be retiring from international football and marked the occasion in style in front of 85,000 supporters in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

Messi, who will continue playing at club level with Inter Miami, scored from the penalty spot in the 71st minute after assisting the first two goals for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz.

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi addressed the crowd at full-time, with many of his former team-mates present – including the majority of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad – as he bowed out with 208 senior caps.

Even before the game Messi looked emotional as he arrived on the team coach through swathes of supporters, but Benin looked to prove party-poopers as Aiyegun Tosin went close and Junior Olaitan forced Emiliano Martinez into a save.

Messi himself had a couple of attempts in a goalless first half, though it took less than three minutes of the second half for the superstar forward to make a telling impact as his corner was eventually turned in by Otamendi.

Paz fired in a second for the home side from the edge of the box just after the hour, with Messi being credited with another assist, before he himself blasted into the top-right corner from the penalty spot after Tamimou Ouorou brought down Agustin Giay.

More Messi magic on Argentina farewell

Twenty-one years on from his senior debut for Argentina as a second-half substitute against Hungary – a match he was sent off in – Messi bowed out in the only way he knows how by ensuring he was the star of the show.

The Inter Miami star ranked first for shots (nine), shots on target (five), expected goals (1.97), touches in the opposition box (12), chances created (four), dribbles (four) and final-third passes (41).

Messi, who won two Copa America crowns to go alongside the 2022 World Cup, ends his international career with 126 goals – a tally only Cristiano Ronaldo (146) can better with Portugal.

The result itself was a sidenote, but Lionel Scaloni will be pleased nonetheless with his side's third win in a row without conceding since the disappointing World Cup final loss to Spain.

Benin threatened to go off-script in the first half, but the quality of Argentina – and Messi – told in the end in what was a routine victory in front of a packed home crowd.