Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been included in the national team squad for a friendly against Benin on October 6, 2026, in what is expected to be his final appearance for the country.
The match will be played at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires and is being organised as a farewell appearance for the 39-year-old forward, who announced his retirement from international football last month.
The Argentina Football Association confirmed that Messi accepted the invitation to feature in the game, giving supporters an opportunity to see him in the national colours one more time.
The Benin match will be the third of Argentina’s scheduled home friendlies during the September-October international window. The world champions will first face Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 before playing Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.
Several members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad have also been invited to participate in the farewell celebrations alongside Messi and their families.
Messi has spent more than two decades representing Argentina, winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup and two Copa América titles among his major international honours.
His final appearance is expected to draw significant attention from Argentine supporters, who are preparing to bid farewell to one of the country’s most decorated footballers.
