Lionel Messi's farewell in Buenos Aires was a night of numbers as much as emotion. Let's break down what 208 caps and 126 goals really mean.

The 208 appearances make Messi Argentina's most-capped player by a distance. The 126 goals make him the country's all-time top scorer, far ahead of anyone else.

Against Benin, he added a 71st-minute penalty and two assists in the 3-0 win, a reminder that even in farewell mode he decides games.

Context matters: Messi's Argentina career spans nearly two decades, from his 2005 debut to the 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar, the crowning achievement.

The drone show over the Monumental and the packed stands showed what he means to Argentine fans: not just a player but a generational symbol.

Whether this was truly goodbye is unclear; Messi has not confirmed his international retirement. But the numbers already place him among football's all-time greats.

For now, fans will savour every remaining appearance.