Teammates and fans bid emotional farewell to Messi ahead of Argentina finale

From former and current team mates to tearful fans outside the Monumental stadium, tributes poured in for Argentine great Lionel Messi on Tuesday as the country prepared to bid farewell to their captain in his final international appearance.



Brazil's Neymar, Messi's former Barcelona and Paris St Germain teammate and longtime friend, said the whole world should be grateful for what the Argentine had given the sport.



"It's not only Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you have done for football," Neymar wrote on Instagram, hours before Messi was due to play his 208th and final game for Argentina against Benin.



"Thank you for making me love football even more. It was an honour for me to have played against you and even more so to make history alongside you."