The Lionel Messi farewell will take place against Benin on October 6, giving Argentina supporters one final chance to celebrate their iconic captain.
BUENOS AIRES: The Lionel Messi farewell is set to bring an extraordinary international career to an emotional close, with Argentina preparing to honour their long-time captain during a final appearance at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental on October 6.
Messi, 39, announced his retirement from international football on August 31 following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The Argentine Football Association has since invited him back for one final match, a friendly against Benin in front of his home supporters.
AFA president Claudio Tapia confirmed that Messi had been invited to receive the farewell officials believe his career deserves. The association has now built anticipation around the occasion with an emotional campaign describing the match as “El Último Tango”, or “The Last Tango”.
Why is Messi playing after retiring?
The October appearance is being organised specifically as a ceremonial farewell rather than a reversal of Messi’s international retirement.
Argentina will play three home friendlies during the international window. They face Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3 before meeting Benin three days later. Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are expected to participate in the final friendly.
Members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families have also been invited to attend the farewell celebrations.
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What makes Messi’s farewell significant?
Messi leaves international football after more than two decades representing Argentina at senior level.
He has made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for his country, making him Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading goalscorer. His major international honours include the 2022 World Cup, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima.
The Lionel Messi farewell will therefore be about far more than the result against Benin. For supporters, it will provide a chance to celebrate a career that included years of disappointment before culminating in Argentina’s return to the summit of world football in Qatar.
AFA’s farewell campaign reflects that emotional connection, presenting Messi’s final appearance as a homecoming and the closing chapter of his international journey.
The October 6 match is expected to be Messi’s 208th and final senior appearance for Argentina.
While his international career is ending, Messi continues playing club football with Inter Miami. On September 17, he scored his 100th goal for the club as Miami beat Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the Campeones Cup.
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Impact to expect
Emotional. Messi’s final Argentina appearance is likely to become a major global football moment, giving supporters at home a formal opportunity to celebrate the captain who led their country to the 2022 World Cup.
