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● Referee hands Messi red, yellow cards as keepsakes ● Hilsa fishing banned for 22 days starting midnight ● CUET VC halts pay for 1,087 staffers amid protest ● Proposal for 442 MW Rampal solar power plant heading to ECNEC today ● 'Not seeing you wearing the No. 10 shirt' ● Abrar Fahad murder case still awaits final verdict ● Gaza war leaves Israel torn between victory claims and inquiry

Referee hands Messi red, yellow cards as keepsakes

Published : Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 at 12:36 PM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

Referee Fernando Vejar presented his match cards to Lionel Messi as special keepsakes following the Argentine legend's final international appearance.

The 39-year-old superstar concluded his international career with a 3-0 victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental, scoring once and assisting twice.

After the final whistle, Chilean referee Fernando Vejar approached Messi and handed him the yellow and red cards used during the match as unique mementos rather than disciplinary actions.

According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, the gesture occurred after the game ended, alongside presenting Messi with the match ball. Benin players also gathered to pay tribute to the forward as he closed his 21-year international career.

Argentine news outlet TN reported that Messi later handed the cards to singer Soledad Pastorutti, who performed during his farewell ceremony. In football, red represents an ejection and yellow serves as a warning, but the gesture transformed both cards into symbols of honor for Messi's final night.

In his 208th and final match for Argentina, Messi brought his career tally to 126 goals and 70 assists.

-SA

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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