Lionel Messi will make one final appearance for Argentina after announcing his retirement from international football. The great forward is in Argentina’s squad for a friendly match against Benin on 6 October at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires and his fans will see their captain in the famous blue and white shirt again. Messi’s final match is not a complete reversal of his retirement decision but it is a farewell match.
Messi announced his retirement on August 31 after Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign. In his final message he wrote: “I have given everything to the national team and I think it is time to retire.” The end of the world appeared to be near for Messi, who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024 and more than two decades representing Argentina.
But Argentina fans now also have another chance to see their hero on home soil. Messi has been invited to attend the Oct. 6 match against Benin as a special farewell match by the Argentine Football Association, which is organised as a special farewell match. The AFA president Claudio Tapia said the association wanted Messi to have the farewell he deserves in Argentina.
Messi Set For Final Argentina Appearance
The Benin friendly will take place at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires and will be Messi’s last scheduled appearance for the Argentina national team. The AFA has selected him in the squad for the upcoming international window, along with some familiar names from Argentina’s recent campaigns.
According to reports, Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are expected to be available for the final friendly match against Benin. Argentina will also play Bolivia on 30 September in Córdoba and Burkina Faso on 3 October in Buenos Aires as part of the home games.
The October 6 match is therefore expected to have a far greater significance than the result. It will represent Messi’s international career and the contributions of Argentina supporters to one of the most profitable decades in the history of football.
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The farewell could also involve the players who shared Argentina's historic 2022 World Cup victory with Messi. AFA officials have arranged for a meeting of that championship-winning team and their families to attend the ceremony in Buenos Aires.
Messi’s 2022 win in Qatar was the biggest achievement of his international career. After years of criticism and several tough tournament defeats, he finally lifted the World Cup as Argentina captain. His performances throughout that tournament were a key factor in Argentina's championship campaign.
His international career continued with the 2024 Copa América and 2026 World Cup before he announced his retirement. Messi remains Argentina’s record goalscorer and most capped player with 125 goals in 207 appearances, according to PA Media/dpa.
Retirement Decision Remains Significant
Messi’s inclusion in the team may seem like a retirement U-turn, but clearly the October appearance is to be seen as a goodbye rather than a stage for another international chapter.
The AFA's announcement specifically describes the Benin game as an opportunity for Messi to receive his farewell in Argentina. FIFA also reported that the fixture would be Messi's final game for the national team following his retirement announcement.
On that note, Messi’s Argentina fans will see it as an emotional finale to Messi’s national team career. Messi has had a long international career starting from the age of a teenager until he was captain and led the country to World Cup glory.
The final whistle against Benin could then be the end of Messi’s Argentina career and the Monumental will be the site of a big tribute to one of the country’s most famous footballers. Rather than another competitive campaign, the October match will allow Messi and Argentina supporters to celebrate his extraordinary international journey one final time.
