officially retired from international career after scoring a goal and providing two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in a friendly international on Wednesday.

Messi, who helped Argentina win the World Cup and two Copa America titles, entered the game with a national-record 125 goals and 68 assists for his country.

Before the final goodbye, he offered a simple message: “I leave in peace. I gave everything.”

The Argentina football icon was honoured with an honorary doctorate by the University of Beunos Aires ahead of his farewell international match against Benin.

The official X handle of AFA posted, “#SelecciónMayor Argentine captain Leo Messi received today the title “Doctor Honoris Causa” from the University of Buenos Aires. Congratulations, legend!”

Messi had announced his international retirement over one month after Argentina’s FIFA World Cup final loss to Spain by 1-0 and just days after the demise of his father, Jorge Messi. His father died on August 8 in the central Argentine city of Rosario at the age of 68.