The Song Sung at Lionel Messi's Argentina Farewell and the Artist Behind It
Messi's Argentina Farewell Match
On Tuesday evening in Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi ended his illustrious Argentina career with a 3-0 victory over Benin. Messi scored the final goal from a penalty in the 71st minute and set up two assists for teammates Nicolas Tagliafico and Nico Paz. This marked a heartfelt conclusion to his time with the national team.
Following the game, there was an extensive tribute celebrating Messi's remarkable journey. A drone show depicted his moments with Argentina, followed by a musical performance on the pitch before Messi delivered his farewell speech.
The Musical Tribute: Who Performed?
The artist who performed after Argentina's win was Soledad Pastorutti. She sang the song "Brindis" on the Estadio Monumental field, honoring Messi and the team. Pastorutti hails from Arequito in Santa Fe Province, just over an hour from Messi's hometown Rosario.
She began her career young, releasing her debut album Poncho al Viento in 1995, which remains Sony Music's top-selling album in Argentina. Over her career, she has sold more than 4 million records and earned two Diamond Awards. In 2014, she won a Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album with her album Raiz. Her connection to Argentine football dates back to the 1998 World Cup, when she accompanied the national team in Madrid.
The Meaning Behind "Brindis"
The song "Brindis" was originally created in 2005 as a football anthem dedicated to Diego Maradona. It holds a special place with the Argentina squad and was performed by Pastorutti during CONMEBOL's tribute event for the 2022 World Cup-winning team. Messi also shared the song on social media when announcing his retirement and requested it be sung again at his farewell match.
Lyrics of "Brindis" (Selected)
- Spanish: Seguir siguiendo al corazón y coquetear con la intuición...
- English translation: Keep following the heart and flirt with intuition...
- Spanish: Siempre voy detrás de lo que siento, cada tanto muero, y aquí estoy...
- English translation: I always go after what I feel, every so often I die, and here I am...
- Spanish: Por esos días por venir, por este brindis para mí...
- English translation: For those days to come, for this toast to me...
- Spanish: Yo me abrazo a mi guitarra y canto fuerte mis plegarias...
- English translation: I hug my guitar and sing my prayers loudly...
The lyrics reflect persistence, passion, and resilience — fitting themes for a farewell to one of football's greatest icons.
