Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina on October 6. The team will face Benin in a friendly match in Buenos Aires.
The farewell game will be played at the Estadio Monumental. The stadium is home to River Plate and has hosted several major Argentina matches. Messi is expected to make his 208th appearance for the national team.
The 39-year-old forward recently announced his retirement from international football. The Argentine Football Association later included him in the squad for the farewell fixture against Benin.
AFA president Claudio Tapia confirmed the invitation for Messi. He said the national team wanted to give its captain a farewell in Argentina.
Messi has also revealed a special Argentina jersey for the occasion. The shirt keeps the national team’s traditional sky-blue and white colors. However, it features several special details for his final appearance.
The jersey has Messi’s name and famous No. 10 in gold. The design also includes the Sun of May on the back. Gold details are also featured around the shirt.
Messi shared the special jersey on social media. He described the occasion with the words, “One last match. A jersey for a lifetime.”
His international career began in 2005 and has lasted more than two decades. During that period, Messi became Argentina’s record appearance holder and leading scorer.
He has scored 125 goals for Argentina, according to recent reports. His final appearance will add another chapter to his long international career.
Lionel Messi has also played a central role in Argentina’s recent international success. He helped the team win the 2021 Copa América.
Argentina then won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Messi was named the tournament’s Golden Ball winner after the team’s campaign.
The national team also won the 2024 Copa América. Messi was part of the squad that secured another major international title.
The upcoming match against Benin will conclude Argentina’s scheduled home friendlies during the current international window. Argentina will also face Bolivia and Burkina Faso before the Benin fixture.
The match will give supporters in Buenos Aires an opportunity to see Messi in an Argentina shirt for the final time.
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For Lionel Messi, the October 6 fixture will mark the closing stage of his international career. His final national-team appearance will take place at the stadium where Argentine supporters will gather to celebrate his long service to the team.
