Messi Named in Argentina Squad for Expected International Farewell Against Benin

Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s squad for an international friendly against Benin on October 6, a match expected to mark his final appearance for the national team following his decision to retire from international football.

The Argentine Football Association confirmed Messi’s inclusion on Tuesday, weeks after the 39-year-old announced that he intended to bring his remarkable international career to an end.

Messi has spent more than two decades representing Argentina, winning major honours including the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia said the decision was made to give the national team captain the farewell he deserves.

He described Messi as a symbol of Argentine football and said the October 6 fixture would provide an opportunity for supporters to celebrate his contribution to the national team.

The friendly against Benin will be played at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, which has a capacity of about 85,000 spectators.

Tapia has also invited members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad to join Messi for what is expected to be a major celebration.

Messi is expected to make his 208th and final appearance for Argentina if he features against Benin. He is already the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, having scored 125 goals for the national team.

Argentina will first play Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 before facing Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.

The fixtures will be part of the team’s preparations following their 2026 World Cup final defeat by Spain.

Messi announced his international retirement after an extraordinary career with Argentina that included multiple major trophies and numerous individual records.

However, his decision came shortly after the death of his father, Jorge, with the football star saying he had serious doubts about how much longer he would continue playing football.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi said when announcing his decision to end his Argentina career.

At club level, Messi remains contracted to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season.

The upcoming Argentina friendlies are also expected to have implications for players serving suspensions related to incidents following the team’s World Cup final defeat. Leandro Paredes received a 10-match suspension, while Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-match ban and Thiago Almada received a one-match suspension.

Argentina were also recently ordered by FIFA to play their next home match at 50 percent capacity after breaching disciplinary rules concerning demonstrations of a non-sporting nature during a match.

Messi’s expected farewell will therefore provide an emotional occasion for Argentina supporters, as one of the most decorated players in the country’s football history prepares to make what could be his final appearance in the famous blue and white shirt.

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