Lionel Messi‘s glittering Argentina career came to an emotional conclusion as the Albiceleste defeated Benin 3-0 in Buenos Aires on Tuesday evening.
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.
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 heartSeguir siguiendo al corazón
And flirt with intuitionY coquetear con la intuición
Continue growing and avoiding routinesSeguir creciendo y esquivando las rutinas
Keep dreaming in a cornerSeguir soñando en un rincón
Continue believing that there is a GodSeguir creyendo que hay un Dios
That straightens my aim in one fell swoopQue me endereza de un tirón la puntería
I always go after what I feelSiempre voy detrás de lo que siento
Every so often I die, and here I amCada tanto muero, y aquí estoy
So many deserts that I crossedTantos desiertos que crucé
I dodged so many shortcutsTantos atajos esquivé
So many battles that painted my woundsTantas batallas que pintaron mis heridas
I caused so many firesTantos incendios provoqué
I tried so many failuresTantos fracasos me probé
I still can’t explain how I singQue no me explico cómo canto todavía
And I always go after what I feelY es que siempre voy detrás de lo que siento
Every so often I die, and here I amCada tanto muero, y aquí estoy
For those days to comePor esos días por venir
For this toast to mePor este brindis para mí
For giving intuition to my soulPor regalarle la intuición al alma mía
Because the days are passing us byPorque los días se nos van
I want to sing until the endQuiero cantar hasta el final
For another night like this I give my lifePor otra noche como esta doy mi vida
I gave up so many celebrationsTantos festejos resigné
I missed so many friendsTantos amigos extrañé
So many Sundays far away from my familyTantos domingos muy lejos de mi familia
I had so many dreamsTantas almohadas conocí
I learned so many songsTantas canciones me aprendí
That the memories seem to me from other livesQue los recuerdos me parecen de otras vidas
I always go after what I feelSiempre voy detrás de lo que siento
Every so often I die, and here I amCada tanto muero, y aquí estoy
I dodged so many beatingsTantas palizas esquivé
I bought so many betrayalsTantas traiciones me compré
So much anger made me show my teethTantos enojos me hicieron mostrar los dientes
With a thousand hugs I took care of myselfCon mil abrazos me cuidé
With a thousand loves I healedCon mil amores me curé
Gathering wounds I continue to believe in peopleJuntando heridas sigo creyendo en la gente
I always go after what I feelSiempre voy detrás de lo que siento
Every now and then I die, but not todayCada tanto muero, pero hoy no
For those days to comePor esos días por venir
For this toast to mePor este brindis para mí
For giving intuition to my soulPor regalarle la intuición al alma mía
Because the days are passing us byPorque los días se nos van
I want to sing until the endQuiero cantar hasta el final
For another night like this I give my lifePor otra noche como esta doy mi vida
For those days to comePor esos días por venir
For this toast to mePor este brindis para mí
For giving intuition to my soulPor regalarle la intuición al alma mía
Because the days are passing us byPorque los días se nos van
I want to sing until the endQuiero cantar hasta el final
For another night like this I give my lifePor otra noche como esta doy mi vida
And on those moonlit nightsY en esas noches de luna
Where memories are daggersDonde 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 anymoreY 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 meY algo pasa, pero ya nada me va a cambiar
For those days to comePor esos días por venir
For this toast to mePor este brindis para mí
For giving intuition to my soulPor regalarle la intuición al alma mía
Because the days are passing us byPorque los días se nos van
I want to sing until the endQuiero cantar hasta el final
For another night like this I give my lifePor otra noche como esta doy mi vida
