Lisandro Martinez has admitted Argentina felt the pressure of Lionel Messi’s final home match, with the Manchester United defender describing the atmosphere inside the squad before their 3-0 victory over Benin.
Messi’s farewell at the Monumental Stadium was always going to be an emotional occasion for football fans. The Argentina captain marked it in typical fashion, scoring once and providing two assists as the world champions secured a comfortable win.
Lisandro Martinez describes the difficult moment was full of anxiety.
“We played with enormous anxiety. It seemed like it would never arrive, and today it did,” Martinez said after the game.
The defender admitted that it was difficult to fully take in the fact that Lionel Messi would no longer be available for another international window.
Martinez reflects on Messi’s Argentina farewell
“It is still hard to process, to leave and know that he will not be available for the next FIFA date,” Martinez said, as quoted by Goal.
The Manchester United centre-back also stressed that the players wanted to make the most of the occasion rather than allow the emotion to take over.
“We try to make sure he enjoys these moments to the fullest, because they go by so fast,” he added.
Martinez has shared the Argentina dressing room with Messi during one of the most successful periods in the national team’s history, including winning the 2022 World Cup.
“He is a very important person to us,” Martinez concluded.
Messi’s performance against Benin made the night even more fitting. He delivered a goal and two assists in front of the home supporters, giving the Monumental crowd one more memorable glimpse of their captain in an Argentina shirt.
Lionel Messi has played a few of the most memorable club games against Manchester United in the Champions League as well. Messi was part of the successful Barcelona team that won the Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011 against Manchester United.
