Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been included in the national team squad for a friendly against Benin on October 6, with the match expected to mark his final appearance for Argentina.
The 39-year-old forward announced his decision to retire from international football in August, bringing an end to a remarkable two-decade career with the national team. During his time with Argentina, Messi led the country to major honours, including the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia confirmed that Messi would be honoured during the Benin fixture, describing him as the country's captain and a symbol of the national team. Tapia said the decision was made to give Messi the farewell he deserves on home soil.
The match is scheduled to take place at River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, which has a capacity of around 85,000 spectators. Tapia has also invited members of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad to join Messi for what he described as an unforgettable occasion.
Messi is expected to make his 208th and final appearance for Argentina. He currently holds the national team's records for both appearances and goals, having scored 125 goals.
His retirement comes after a difficult period personally, following the death of his father, Jorge, in August. Messi had previously expressed uncertainty about how much longer he would continue playing football.
Reflecting on his international retirement, Messi said the decision was painful but that he believed it was the right time to bring his Argentina career to an end.
Before the farewell match against Benin, Argentina are scheduled to play friendlies against Bolivia on September 30 in Córdoba and Burkina Faso on October 3 in Buenos Aires.
However, the fixtures could also have disciplinary implications. FIFA recently ordered Argentina to play their next home match at 50 percent stadium capacity following a breach of its disciplinary code related to demonstrations considered non-sporting. The sanction followed an incident during Argentina's World Cup semi-final victory over England, when several players displayed a banner referencing the Falkland Islands.
The upcoming friendlies are also expected to be affected by suspensions handed down after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain. Leandro Paredes received a 10-match suspension, Nahuel Molina was banned for seven matches, while Thiago Almada received a one-match suspension.
Messi's international retirement will therefore bring to a close one of the longest and most decorated careers in Argentina's national-team history, with the October 6 meeting with Benin set to provide an opportunity for supporters, teammates and former World Cup champions to celebrate his contribution to Argentine football.
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