Lionel Messi to Bid Farewell to Argentina in Upcoming Friendly Match
Messi's Final Appearance for Argentina
File image of Lionel Messi(Photo: @BouafifNour/X)
New Delhi, Sep 16: Lionel Messi is set to play his last match for the Argentine national team in a friendly against Benin next month at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
AFA president Claudio Tapia announced on social media, "We have invited the world’s best player, our national icon, and captain Lionel Andres Messi, to have a well-deserved farewell here in Argentina."
According to the Argentine Football Association, Messi, along with Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, will be part of the squad for the final friendly on October 6th. The complete roster of players from the domestic league will be revealed on Friday.
Last month, Messi declared his retirement from international football, concluding a remarkable 20-year career with Argentina that featured a World Cup victory, two Copa America titles, and a record 207 appearances.
On August 31, Messi shared, "After much reflection, I want to announce that I am retiring from the Argentina national team. This decision was painful and still hurts, but I believe the time has come."
He added, "I assure you that I always gave my all—not just in the recent years when we achieved everything, but throughout my career. I fought hard and left everything on the field for this jersey, aiming to bring you joy and pride through football."
The 39-year-old, who has won the Ballon d'Or eight times and currently plays for Inter Miami in MLS, is Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 125 goals in 207 matches.
Messi made his debut for Argentina at just 18 years old in 2005. He led the team to a runners-up finish in Brazil 2014 and a championship in Qatar 2022. In his last FIFA World Cup earlier this year, Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists, helping his team reach the final, which they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
The Argentine national team is scheduled to play three international friendlies from September 21 to October 6. The first match will occur at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba on September 30 against Bolivia. The subsequent matches will be held at River Plate Stadium on October 3 against Burkina Faso and on October 6 against Benin.
River Plate's Estadio Monumental, with a capacity of 85,000, will host the farewell match against Benin. Tapia mentioned that the 2022 World Cup winners and their families have also been invited, promising an "unforgettable" event.