The Argentina’s Football Association (AFA) has officially announced the final match for Lionel Messi’s international career in a friendly match against Benin.
Lionel Messi will have his farewell match with the Argentinean national team on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires city against Benin, a nation that has never faced Argentina before. This decision comes just two weeks after Messi announced his retirement from international football.
The Argentinean Football Association (AFA) confirmed this news on Tuesday, revealing that Messi will participate in the final of three international window matches scheduled from September 21 to October 6. Before this, the team led by Lionel Scaloni will face Bolivia and Burkina Faso.
RELATED: Argentinean Lionel Messi Shatters 3 New World Cup Records
The chosen opponent for Messi’s farewell is Benin, currently ranked 93rd in the FIFA rankings and a member of the African Football Confederation.
The announcement was made by Argentinean Football Association’s President Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia through a video posted on social media. “To all the fans of the national team, Argentines, I want to inform you that after a conversation with the national team’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, we have decided to invite the best player in the world, the emblem of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andrés Messi, to have the farewell he deserves on October 6, here in Argentina,” Tapia stated.
Leo Messi will make a farewell Argentina appearance vs. Benin on October 6th in Buenos Aires
pic.twitter.com/4Ubs4VQ5kc
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 15, 2026
“After receiving Lionel’s acceptance, we invite all the world champions who participated in the Qatar World Cup to join with their families for an unforgettable match, the last tango of the best player in the world,”, he added.
During the FIFA date, the national team will also face Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba and Burkina Faso on October 3 at Monumental’s stadium. This will be the team’s first appearance after finishing second in the 2026 World Cup and Coach Scaloni’s penultimate call before his contract expires. It will also be the first gathering of the team since Messi announced his retirement from the national team.
Messi’s final match will also feature the champions of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, adding to the emotional weight of the event.
Against Benin, the Argentinean captain will have the opportunity to further enhance his legend and surpass the 125-goal mark, a record no other footballer has achieved in the history of the national team.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 15, 2026
Beyond Messi’s presence, the good news is that these three matches will be considered by FIFA for suspended players to serve their suspensions received after the final against Spain: Leandro Paredes, who must serve ten matches; Nahuel Molina, who must serve eight matches; and Thiago Almada, who must serve one match. Additionally, Roberto Ayala, Scaloni’s assistant, received a three-match suspension and will be eligible to return in the next call, scheduled for November.
Before joining the national team, Messi will play three matches with Inter Miami. This Wednesday, he will face Cruz Azul in the UN Stadium for the Campeones Cup. On Sunday, he will host San Diego in the Major League Soccer, and the following weekend, he will visit Columbus Crew, also for the MLS.
The Argentinean Football Association has also planned a series of celebrations to honor Messi, including a special tribute from all Argentinean clubs.
The Argentinean Football Association has assured that Messi’s farewell will be a grand event, fitting for a player of his caliber. Fans from around the world are expected to flock to Buenos Aires to witness history in the making. The match against Benin will not only be a celebration of Messi’s career but also a testament to his enduring legacy in the world of football.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.