Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina’s squad for a friendly against Benin on October 6, setting up a farewell appearance for the national team’s leading scorer at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old announced on August 31 that he was retiring from national team duties after Argentina’s loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. The Benin match is expected to be his 208th and final appearance for Argentina, ending a two-decade international career that brought the country the 2022 World Cup and Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.
Messi has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has remained in club football with Inter Miami, where his contract runs until the end of the 2028 season.
Claudio Tapia, the president of the Argentina federation, said the invitation was agreed with national team head coach Lionel Scaloni. “We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on October 6 here in Argentina”.
Argentina have also invited every member of their 2022 World Cup-winning squad to the match.
Estadio Monumental holds 85,000 spectators and is the largest stadium in South America. FIFA has ordered Argentina to stage their next home match at 50 percent capacity over breaches of its disciplinary code. The sanction will be served during the earlier fixtures, before the Benin match.
The farewell comes at the end of a short run of Argentina friendlies. The team play Bolivia on September 30 in Cordoba, then Burkina Faso on October 3 in Buenos Aires, before facing Benin on October 6.
Messi described his retirement as a painful decision. “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time”.
In his retirement announcement, he said: “I've given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”
The October 6 fixture gives Argentina supporters a final home occasion for the player who led the side through its World Cup triumph and consecutive Copa America victories. It will also close the international chapter of a career defined by 125 goals and 207 appearances before the farewell match.
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