Messi Was Retired, Then Argentina Made One Last Call, And Now The Goodbye Is Set

Lionel Messi will get one final chance to wear the Argentina shirt in front of his home fans, with the country's football association confirming that the 39-year-old has been included in the squad for an October 6 friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires.

Messi had announced his retirement from international football last month, bringing an extraordinary two-decade spell with Argentina closer to an end. But the Argentina Football Association (AFA) has now arranged a farewell appearance for its captain and greatest recent icon.

The match against Benin will be played at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires and is expected to serve as Messi's final appearance for the national team. AFA president Claudio Tapia said the decision was taken after discussions with coach Lionel Scaloni and that Messi had accepted the invitation.

Tapia also said Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families would be invited to the occasion, turning the friendly into a celebration of the generation that finally brought the World Cup back to Argentina.

Messi's international career has included some of the highest highs and most painful lows in Argentine football. He eventually led the country to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, following Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024. Argentina also reached the 2026 World Cup final, where it lost 1-0 to Spain.

The Benin game will be the third of Argentina's three upcoming home friendlies. The team will first face Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba before playing Burkina Faso at the Monumental on October 3.

Messi is not expected to play in all three matches, with the AFA indicating that he, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso will take part in the final fixture against Benin.

The farewell also comes at a period of change for Argentina. Scaloni's contract expires in December, while Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada face FIFA suspensions following an altercation after the World Cup final. Paredes received a 10-match ban, Molina seven and Almada one.

For Argentina supporters, however, the focus on October 6 will be simple: one more night, one more Argentina shirt and one final appearance for the player who transformed a generation of disappointment into World Cup glory.