Why did referee give Messi yellow and red cards after his final Argentina match. Argentina captain Lionel Messi was not actually booked or sent off after Argentina's 3-0 win over Benin. Referee Fernando Véjar handed Messi his yellow and red cards as farewell souvenirs following the final international match of his career. Messi was famously sent off shortly after coming on for his Argentina debut against Hungary in 2005.