Messi to Bid Farewell in Buenos Aires
Lionel Messi will have one last chance to wear the Argentina jersey, with the 39-year-old named in Lionel Scaloni's 28-man squad for a friendly against Benin on October 6 at River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The match will serve as his farewell appearance after he announced his retirement from international football last month.
Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), said in a video posted on X that the decision to invite Messi was made after discussions with coach Lionel Scaloni. "We have decided to invite the world's best player so that he can have the send-off he deserves – the icon, our captain, Lionel Andrés Messi – on 6 October," Tapia said.
The AFA later issued a statement confirming that Messi had accepted the invitation, and that all members of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would be invited to attend the match with their families. "We would like to announce that, following a discussion with national team coach, Lionel Scaloni, we have decided to invite the world's best player, the icon of our national team, our captain Lionel Messi, so that he can receive the send-off he truly deserves on 6 October here in Argentina," the statement read.
A Career of Records
The October 6 match will be Messi's 208th appearance for Argentina, a national record, and he will look to add to his tally of 125 goals, also a record. Messi made his senior debut in 2005 and went on to lead Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024. He also reached the World Cup final in 2014 and 2026, finishing as runner-up on both occasions.
Messi announced his retirement on August 31, saying in a statement posted on Instagram that the decision was "one that hurts me deeply" but that he understood "it's the right time." He also cited the death of his father, Jorge, who passed away earlier in August, as a factor in his decision. "I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team," Messi wrote. "I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give."
The farewell match comes three days after Argentina host Burkina Faso at the same stadium, and a week after they face Bolivia at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba on September 30. Messi, along with Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, who also won the 2022 World Cup, will feature only in the match against Benin, the AFA confirmed.
Looking Ahead
Lionel Scaloni's contract as Argentina coach expires in December, and he had hinted he might step down following Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final on July 19. The AFA has not yet announced who will lead the team in the upcoming friendlies.
Meanwhile, FIFA recently handed bans to three Argentina players — Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada — for their involvement in a scuffle after the World Cup final loss. The bans are separate from FIFA's punishment of Argentina for a banner raised by players claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands after a semifinal win over England, which included playing home matches at reduced capacity.
The October 6 match against Benin, ranked 93rd in the FIFA world rankings, will bring down the curtain on a glittering international career that has seen Messi win every major trophy with Argentina, cementing his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.