Lionel Messi’s emotional farewell unfolded at the Más Monumental

The Más Monumental was the setting for Lionel Messi’s emotional farewell to the Argentine public. He experienced a day filled with feeling, which ended with a match in which he was the standout player, according to the account of the occasion.

Argentine television began showing images of the star on his last day in the albiceleste, and emotion spread through the crowd. Messi held back tears, but only just. The reported account says the tribute ended with a 3-0 win over Benin, with Leo scoring once and providing two assists.

Messi’s first tears came on the bus taking the national team from Ezeiza to River’s stadium, the Mas Monumental. On arrival, 85,000 spectators were waiting for him. Anto, his wife, their three children and his mother, Celia, gathered around him, remembering Jorge, his late father.

Shortly before his final lap of honour at the Monumental, Leo moved the whole country to tears. His words, the emotion in the stands and the worldwide sense of the occasion made it a farewell of particular significance for Argentina’s greatest player.