Rohr hails Messi after stunning Argentina farewell against Benin

…Says record eight Ballon d’Or winner ‘perhaps even better’ than Maradona

• By Morakinyo Abodunrin

Benin coach Gernot Rohr has placed Lionel Messi above even Diego Maradona, saying the Argentina captain is “perhaps even better” than his late compatriot after watching him bow out of international football with a goal and two assists in a 3-0 friendly win at a packed Monumental stadium on Tuesday.

Rohr, who played against Maradona while at Bordeaux, said the comparison struck him on the eve of the match.

“I played personally against Maradona sometimes with Girondins de Bordeaux, and already Maradona was a fantastic player. Messi is perhaps even better,” Rohr said. “When we made the training the day before the match in Boca Juniors Stadium, we saw the statue of Maradona. Messi and Maradona are really one of the greatest players we ever had in our football.”

The Franco-German coach said Messi’s greatness goes beyond football.

“Messi is different because his life is a success also, and his family is wonderful. We could not speak with Lionel yesterday, but I have his signature, that is already a success.”

Rohr recalled  an eight year-long story when  as  Super Eagles coach , faced Messi at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

 “We lost 2-1, and we had Lionel Messi, who scored the first goal for his team,” he recalled. “After this match, he gave me his jersey. So this jersey, he didn’t sign it in 2018. So I brought it yesterday to the match in Buenos Aires, and he signed it for me. So this historic moment is great. We will ever think about this and have a wonderful memory.”

He  said Messi should be a model for young players:  “This big player, humble, fantastic human being, and of course in football, he’s like an icon.”

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“So yes, I think he will leave football for his country, not in his club, and we have really an example for our young players, how you have to play technically and how can be your attitude on the pitch and out of the pitch. He’s really an example.”

Meanwhile, the 39-year-old’s final appearance, in front of more than 85,000 fans, according to Reuters,  was less a match than a national celebration, with Buenos Aires landmarks glowing sky blue and white and fireworks over the stadium.

Earlier in the day, a giant No. 10 shirt bearing the word “Gracias” was unfurled at the National Flag Memorial in Rosario, Messi’s hometown. Messi wiped away tears as thousands lined the route of the team bus, and Benin’s captain appeared lost for words as he handed him a gift and a letter before kick-off.

After a goalless first half, Messi set up Nicolas Otamendi, also ending his international career, for the opener, then teed up Nico Paz, seen as a potential heir to the No. 10 shirt, for the second. He completed the fairytale by converting a penalty for 3-0, his 126th international goal.

“It’s hard to talk,” said Messi. “There are a lot of emotions. The first thing I think about is my old man,” he added, referring to the recent death of his father.

“It was a huge source of pride for me to wear this shirt all this time, more than 20 years. Not coming anymore is going to hurt a lot.”

Messi leaves as Argentina’s most-capped player (208) and record scorer, having turned years of frustration into World Cup and Copa America triumphs.

For years, Argentina asked Messi to deliver. On Tuesday, it simply came to say thank you.

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