Argentina Prepare to Bid Farewell to Messi in Benin Friendly

Argentina will bid an emotional farewell to Lionel Messi on Tuesday when the South American champions take on Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, marking the end of the superstar’s international career and the start of a new chapter for the national team.

Messi, 39, is set to make his final appearance for Argentina after more than 20 years of service. The occasion will see him hand over the captain’s armband for the final time in front of 85,000 supporters and several teammates who helped him achieve World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022.

The farewell friendly also provides a symbolic opportunity for Argentina’s emerging stars to take over from a player whose international achievements include one World Cup title, two Copa America trophies and the Finalissima.

Messi departs as Argentina’s record appearance holder and leading goalscorer, with 125 goals from 207 matches. His 68 assists are also a national record.

The farewell follows Argentina’s ill-tempered World Cup final loss to Spain in New Jersey two and a half months ago. Messi left that match in tears after failing to have a major influence on the contest.

“I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance,” Messi wrote in August when announcing his international retirement.

Messi’s club future remains tied to Inter Miami until 2028, but the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago prompted him to reveal that he could end his playing career sooner than expected.

A final reunion

Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families will be present for Messi’s farewell against Benin, ranked 93rd in the world.

Angel Di María, who retired from international football in 2024, is among the veterans expected to witness the transition to the next generation.

Some of Argentina’s young players, including Franco Mastantuono and Leonel Flores, were not born when Messi made his international debut in 2005 for a national team whose history had long been shaped by Diego Maradona.

“It’s going to be an unforgettable day for everyone. Everyone wants to be at this match, and now it’s just about enjoying it,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.

Argentina’s younger players have already shown that they can succeed without their captain, even though replacing a player considered by many to be the greatest footballer in history will be a huge task.

“Collectively, we will try to fill the void left by Leo,” said Scaloni, who is currently negotiating a contract extension after his future remained unresolved following the World Cup defeat in July.

Scaloni will also say goodbye to 38-year-old vice-captain Nicolas Otamendi, while midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso were selected only for the Benin game, meaning their international futures could also be nearing an end.

Argentina’s next leaders

Among the veterans expected to carry Argentina forward after Messi are Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.

Romero, a tenacious centre-back, is expected to take over the captaincy from Messi, who first wore the armband at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez are next in the captaincy hierarchy.

The transition has already begun, with Argentina producing impressive results since the World Cup final. They defeated Bolivia 4-0 in Cordoba on Wednesday, with young talents Nico Paz and Jose Manuel Lopez among the scorers.

Argentina then recorded a 7-0 win over Burkina Faso at the Monumental on Saturday, where Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni scored their first international goals.

While the national team’s future is beginning to emerge, Argentina still has one symbolic decision to make: who will inherit Messi’s famous number 10 shirt?

“We won’t give the number 10 to anyone until Leo’s match takes place,” Scaloni said. “After that, we’ll see.”

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