Argentina captain Lionel Messi arrived in Rosario with his family on Friday, four days before the friendly match against Benin, which will mark his final appearance for La Albiceleste in front of the home crowd.
The private jet carrying Messi, his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, his sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, landed at Rosario’s Islas Malvinas International Airport.
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The city, located about 300 kilometers from Buenos Aires, will be the footballer’s base for the weekend. Upon arrival, the Inter Miami forward headed to his residence in Funes—a town on the outskirts of Rosario—where he will stay before joining the squad led by Lionel Scaloni.
The captain arrived earlier than expected. Initially, Messi was expected to join the national team after the match Argentina is set to play this Saturday against Burkina Faso at the Monumental Stadium—the second of three friendlies scheduled for this international window.
The forward is not expected to play in that match. However, he might travel to Buenos Aires to be with the squad, though this possibility has not yet been confirmed.
On Tuesday, October 6, Argentina will face Benin at the Monumental Stadium in a match organized as a farewell for Lionel Messi from the national team in front of his home fans. The event will include a tribute to the captain, and tickets sold out quickly.
#SelecciónMayor Llega el Fan Fest “Gracias, Leo”: una experiencia única para despedir a Messi junto a la Selección.
📘 https://t.co/TohquhM9VV pic.twitter.com/yIkEmk4hs4
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 2, 2026
The text reads, “The Fan Fest “Thank you, Leo” arrives: a unique experience to bid farewell to Messi alongside the National Team.”
The match is part of the friendlies following the 2026 World Cup, a tournament in which the Argentine national team lost the final to Spain. Prior to this, La Albiceleste defeated Bolivia 4–0 in Córdoba this past Wednesday—a match that also marked the start of the squad overhaul driven by Scaloni with an eye toward upcoming competitions.
Messi announced his retirement from the national team on August 31. “I gave it my all. I have nothing left to give,” wrote the footballer, explaining that he made the decision following the World Cup final defeat and announced it after the passing of his father, Jorge Messi.
The forward made his debut for the senior national team on August 17, 2005, in a friendly match against Hungary. According to figures released by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), he has recorded 207 matches, 125 goals, and 68 assists.
Messi is Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer. With the national team, he won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, and the 2022 Finalissima.
#FIFA | The French Football Federation has unanimously withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election, raising concerns over governance, transparency and proposals involving outside investment in World Cup commercial rights.#France… pic.twitter.com/6Td21jSTZP
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) September 10, 2026
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