Football

Lionel Messi’s glittering Argentina career came to an emotional conclusion as the Albiceleste defeated Benin 3-0 in Buenos Aires on Tuesday evening.

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Messi scored a goal in the 71st minute, bagging his final Argentina strike from the penalty spot to round out the scoring. He also provided two assists on goals by Nicolas Tagliafico and Nico Paz, a fitting conclusion to his longest-tenured Argentina teammate and the heir apparent to his role on the team.

After the match, there was a long tribute to Messi’s sensational career, with a drone show playing out his time with the national team and a subsequent musical performance before Messi gave a speech on the pitch.

The Sporting News brings you more information on the individual who performed on the field after the game was over, and how her link to the Argentina national team has been strengthened over decades.

MORE: Lionel Messi’s final stats, goals, and trophies for Argentina as he ends his international career

Who is Soledad Pastorutti?

The first musical artist who performed on the Estadio Monumental pitch after Argentina beat Benin 3-0 was Soledad Pastorutti, who sang the song Brindis.

She is originally from Arequito in Santa Fe, the same province that Messi is from. Arequito is just over an hour drive from Rosario, Messi’s hometown.

The 45-year-old folk artist is best known for her first album, Poncho al Viento, which is Sony Music’s best-ever selling album in Argentina.

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She began her career as a 15-year-old, releasing her aforementioned debut album in 1995. She has sold over 4 million records in her career, and has earned two Diamond Awards in Argentina. She won a Latin Grammy Award in 2014 for Best Folk Album, with her album «Raiz» winning the award.

Pastorutti accompanied the Argentina national team at the 1998 World Cup in Madrid, beginning her lifelong link to Argentine football.

What is the song they sang at Lionel Messi’s finale?

Soledad Pastorutti sang the song «Brindis» after Messi’s final match with Argentina.

The song was initially coined in 2005 as a football anthem dedicated to Diego Maradona, and has since been close to the heart of the Argentina national team. Pastorutti performed the song for Messi and the Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup during CONMEBOL’s tribute event.

Messi used the song on social media when announcing his retirement, and asked Pastorutti to perform the song again after the match, which she did right in front of Messi on the pitch just before his speech.

Brindis lyrics

Here are the lyrics to the song «Brindis» in both Spanish and translated to English.

Keep following the heart
Seguir siguiendo al corazón

And flirt with intuition
Y coquetear con la intuición

Continue growing and avoiding routines
Seguir creciendo y esquivando las rutinas

Keep dreaming in a corner
Seguir soñando en un rincón

Continue believing that there is a God
Seguir creyendo que hay un Dios

That straightens my aim in one fell swoop
Que me endereza de un tirón la puntería

I always go after what I feel
Siempre voy detrás de lo que siento

Every so often I die, and here I am
Cada tanto muero, y aquí estoy

So many deserts that I crossed
Tantos desiertos que crucé

I dodged so many shortcuts
Tantos atajos esquivé

So many battles that painted my wounds
Tantas batallas que pintaron mis heridas

I caused so many fires
Tantos incendios provoqué

I tried so many failures
Tantos fracasos me probé

I still can’t explain how I sing
Que no me explico cómo canto todavía

And I always go after what I feel
Y es que siempre voy detrás de lo que siento

Every so often I die, and here I am
Cada tanto muero, y aquí estoy

For those days to come
Por esos días por venir

For this toast to me
Por este brindis para mí

For giving intuition to my soul
Por regalarle la intuición al alma mía

Because the days are passing us by
Porque los días se nos van

I want to sing until the end
Quiero cantar hasta el final

For another night like this I give my life
Por otra noche como esta doy mi vida

I gave up so many celebrations
Tantos festejos resigné

I missed so many friends
Tantos amigos extrañé

So many Sundays far away from my family
Tantos domingos muy lejos de mi familia

I had so many dreams
Tantas almohadas conocí

I learned so many songs
Tantas canciones me aprendí

That the memories seem to me from other lives
Que los recuerdos me parecen de otras vidas

I always go after what I feel
Siempre voy detrás de lo que siento

Every so often I die, and here I am
Cada tanto muero, y aquí estoy

I dodged so many beatings
Tantas palizas esquivé

I bought so many betrayals
Tantas traiciones me compré

So much anger made me show my teeth
Tantos enojos me hicieron mostrar los dientes

With a thousand hugs I took care of myself
Con mil abrazos me cuidé

With a thousand loves I healed
Con mil amores me curé

Gathering wounds I continue to believe in people
Juntando heridas sigo creyendo en la gente

I always go after what I feel
Siempre voy detrás de lo que siento

Every now and then I die, but not today
Cada tanto muero, pero hoy no

For those days to come
Por esos días por venir

For this toast to me
Por este brindis para mí

For giving intuition to my soul
Por regalarle la intuición al alma mía

Because the days are passing us by
Porque los días se nos van

I want to sing until the end
Quiero cantar hasta el final

For another night like this I give my life
Por otra noche como esta doy mi vida

For those days to come
Por esos días por venir

For this toast to me
Por este brindis para mí

For giving intuition to my soul
Por regalarle la intuición al alma mía

Because the days are passing us by
Porque los días se nos van

I want to sing until the end
Quiero cantar hasta el final

For another night like this I give my life
Por otra noche como esta doy mi vida

And on those moonlit nights
Y en esas noches de luna

Where memories are daggers
Donde los recuerdos son puñal

I hug my guitar and sing my prayers loudly.
Me abrazo a mi guitarra y canto fuerte mis plegarias

And something happens, but nothing makes me cry anymore
Y algo pasa, pero ya nada me hace llorar

I hug my guitar and sing my prayers loudly.
Yo me abrazo a mi guitarra y canto fuerte mis plegarias

And something happens, but nothing is going to change me
Y algo pasa, pero ya nada me va a cambiar

For those days to come
Por esos días por venir

For this toast to me
Por este brindis para mí

For giving intuition to my soul
Por regalarle la intuición al alma mía

Because the days are passing us by
Porque los días se nos van

I want to sing until the end
Quiero cantar hasta el final

For another night like this I give my life
Por otra noche como esta doy mi vida

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