“One Last Match”: Messi Unveils Special No. 10 Jersey for Argentina Farewell

Lionel Messi has unveiled the special Argentina No. 10 jersey he will wear for his final international appearance, giving fans a glimpse of the shirt that will mark the end of his more than two-decade journey with the national team.

Messi revealed the commemorative Adidas jersey on social media along with an emotional message: “Último partido… Una camiseta para toda la vida” “One last match… A jersey for a lifetime.” The shirt retains Argentina's traditional sky-blue and white colours, while his name MESSI and iconic No. 10 appear in gold on the back. The Sun of May is positioned above his name, while a distinctive pattern adds to the special design.

Messi's farewell appearance is scheduled for October 6, when Argentina face Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The match was arranged after the Argentine Football Association invited the 39-year-old forward to return for a final appearance following his decision to retire from international football. AFA president Claudio Tapia described the fixture as a deserved farewell for the team's captain and icon.

Argentina will play two other home friendlies during the international window. Lionel Scaloni's side will face Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Cordoba before taking on Burkina Faso on October 3 at the Monumental. Messi will not participate in either match. AFA has confirmed that Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso will join the squad specifically for the October 6 fixture against Benin.

The farewell comes after Messi announced his international retirement on August 31, following Argentina's 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. He had initially considered the decision after the tournament and subsequently confirmed that the time had come to end his international career.

Messi leaves Argentina as the country's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, with 207 appearances, 125 goals and 68 assists. His international career began with his senior debut against Hungary in 2005.

After years of disappointment, including defeats in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals, Messi eventually enjoyed an extraordinary run of success with Argentina. He won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.

His World Cup career spanned a record six editions from 2006 to 2026. Messi finished with 34 World Cup appearances and 21 goals, while his eight goals and four assists helped Argentina reach the 2026 final. His 21 goals rank second in World Cup history behind Kylian Mbappé's 22.

Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami, but on October 6 he will return to the Argentina shirt one final time. At the Monumental, the special No. 10 jersey will accompany a farewell to one of the longest and most decorated international careers in the history of the game.