After announcing his international retirement last month, Lionel Messi is set to play one final match for Argentina. The 39-year-old will face Benin in a friendly match on October 6 at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium, where Messi will have a chance to say goodbye to Argentinian supporters after more than 20 years with the national team.
Lionel Messi will make one final appearance for Argentina against Benin after announcing his international retirement
Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia shared the news, stating, as per People, “To all Argentina fans, I want to tell you that after a conversation with the national team head coach, Lionel Scaloni, we have decided to invite the best player in the world, our national team emblem, our captain, Lionel Andrés Messi, so he can have the goodbye he truly deserves on Oct. 6 here in Argentina.”
“At the same time, after Lionel accepted the invitation, we decided to invite all the 2022 World Cup winners who played with him in Qatar so they can, with their families, join him in this match that will be unforgettable. We invite all Argentinians and national team fans to watch ‘the last tango’ of the best player in the world,” he added.
Messi confirmed on August 31 via an Instagram post that he had decided to end his international career, two weeks after Argentina’s defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. However, he will continue to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer
The Argentine star made his international debut at 18 in 2005. Since then, he scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for the national team. His final competitive international goal came against Egypt in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. Argentina reached the final but suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain. With 12 assists, he holds the all-time record for the most assists in FIFA World Cup history.
