Lionel Messi is set to make an emotional farewell appearance for Argentina on October 6, when the national team faces Benin in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has included the 39-year-old superstar in its squad for the match, providing Messi with an opportunity to say goodbye to the national team in front of his home supporters after announcing his retirement from international football.
AFA president Claudio Tapia confirmed the invitation, describing Messi as the team’s icon and captain and saying the decision was made to give him the farewell he deserves.
FIFA also confirmed that the October 6 fixture against Benin will be Messi’s final appearance for Argentina.
Messi announced his international retirement in August following an extraordinary career spanning more than two decades.
His final competitive appearance for Argentina came at the 2026 World Cup, after which he decided to step away from international duty.
The farewell fixture will give Argentine fans an opportunity to celebrate one of the most decorated players in the country’s football history.
Messi has made 207 appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals, according to reports. He also captained the country to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar, ending Argentina’s long wait for another global championship.
His international honors also include Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024. Over the years, Messi transformed his relationship with the Argentina supporters, particularly after overcoming the disappointment of several major tournament defeats earlier in his career.
The October 6 encounter with Benin is the final fixture in Argentina’s three-match home series during the international window.
The team is scheduled to face Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 before meeting Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3. The Benin match will then bring the series to a close at the Monumental.
Messi will not be alone during the farewell celebrations. Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are also expected to participate in the final friendly, while members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad have reportedly been invited to attend the occasion with their families.
The match is therefore expected to be more than an ordinary international friendly.
It will mark the closing chapter of Messi’s Argentina career, which has included triumphs, setbacks, records and some of the most memorable moments in the country’s football history.
For Argentine supporters, October 6 will provide one final opportunity to see Messi walk onto the pitch wearing the famous blue-and-white shirt. For Messi himself, the night will offer a chance to conclude his international journey on home soil, surrounded by teammates, supporters and the country whose football history he helped reshape.
As the final whistle approaches, attention will inevitably turn from competition to celebration, with Buenos Aires preparing to bid farewell to Argentina’s iconic No. 10.
