From Buenos Aires Times · · 1m 20s
Benin Celebrates Messi's Final Game
Benin fans call it an honor to have been Messi's last international opponent.
In brief
Benin fans call it an honor to have been Messi's last international opponent. Benin celebrated hosting Lionel Messi's final international match with pride and emotion. Originally reported by Buenos Aires Times.
Benin Fans Celebrate
Football fans in Benin declared it was an honour that the west african nation provided the opposition for Lionel Messi's final international appearance.
Benin's Match Experience
Benin lost 3-0 in Buenos Aires in front of more than 80,000 spectators on Tuesday but the result was almost meaningless on a night one of the world's greatest ever players made his international farewell.
Screens in Cotonou
From neighbourhood to neighbourhood screens sprang up in restaurants and bars in the beninese capital Cotonou so as not to miss a moment of the historic occasion.
Fan Reactions
Sylvestre Dagbedji, 34, a security guard and self-declared Messi fan said it's an honour that Benin is the last team Messi faces.
Messi's Final Moment
In the 71st minute of the game, having already provided two assists, Messi stepped up to take the penalty to round out the score and the crowd in Benin erupted when the ball hit the back of the net.
Emotional Farewell
Benin's defeat was already forgotten as fans said they would miss Messi after witnessing his historic international retirement.
The one thing
Benin celebrated hosting Lionel Messi's final international match with pride and emotion.
