Messi set for Argentina farewell as Benin embrace place in final international chapter

Lionel Messi is set to wear Argentina’s shirt for the final time on Tuesday when the world champions face Benin in a farewell match at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium. The Argentine Football Association has organised the fixture for its captain, with members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad invited to the celebrations. The 39-year-old will earn his 208th Argentina cap, according to the BBC, having scored 125 goals in 207 senior internationals.

Punch Nigeria, citing AFP, said about 85,000 supporters are expected to attend as Messi brings the curtain down on a 21-year international career. The reports differ slightly in how they frame the end of his playing career. Punch described Messi as hanging up his boots two-and-a-half months after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain, while the BBC said he announced his international retirement on 31 August after that defeat.

The supplied reports establish that Tuesday is his final Argentina appearance, but do not independently detail his plans for club football. Neymar, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona and also faced him in international football, has paid tribute ahead of the match. According to Fabrizio Romano, as quoted by Punch, the Brazilian said football fans around the world had enjoyed Messi’s career and thanked him for making him love the sport even more.

Neymar also described it as an honour to have made history with him. Benin’s involvement gives the occasion a particular African connection. Assistant coach Tunde Adelakun told BBC Sport Africa that he was present when an 18-year-old Messi helped Argentina defeat Nigeria in the 2005 Under-20 World Cup final.

Messi scored twice from the penalty spot, finished as the tournament’s leading scorer and won its Golden Ball. The BBC said Messi later faced African opposition at the 2008 Olympics and in six senior World Cup matches. Argentina beat Nigeria in the 2008 final and again at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups, while Algeria, Cape Verde and Egypt were among the African teams encountered during the 2026 tournament.

For Benin, ranked 93rd in the world and yet to qualify for a World Cup, the invitation came unexpectedly while the team was preparing for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Benin drew 1-1 with Burkina Faso and beat Mauritania 2-1 in its opening two matches. Coach Gernot Rohr called the fixture a historic moment but said his team would not travel merely to fill out the occasion.

Benin captain Steve Mounié will miss the match because of injury, although he travelled after paying for his own ticket. He hopes to watch from the bench with the staff. Adelakun said the game could show a worldwide audience that Benin can compete, while Mounié said the evening should primarily belong to Messi rather than become a contest over his final shirt.