SportsPosted at: Oct 5 2026 7:33PM


Messi set for final Argentina appearance against Benin

New Delhi, Oct 5 (UNI) Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina when the 2026 World Cup runners-up face Benin at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
The occasion will be an emotional one for Argentine football, with thousands of fans expected at the stadium and millions more watching around the world as Messi brings an extraordinary international career to a close.
Messi made his Argentina debut in August 2005 in a friendly against Hungary. Over the next two decades, he went from a promising teenager to one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and also won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024. He was part of the team that lifted the Finalissima in 2022 and finished as a World Cup runner-up in 2014 and 2026.
Messi once appeared to have walked away from international football. After Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final to Chile on penalties, he announced his retirement but reversed the decision soon after. His return eventually led to the biggest prize of all, with Argentina winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Now, at the end of a career that has produced eight Ballon d'Or awards and a long list of records, Messi is preparing to hand over the responsibility of carrying Argentina forward to the next generation.
Some of his long-time teammates, including Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, remain part of the squad. Several members of the 2022 World Cup-winning team who are no longer involved with the national side are also expected to be at the stadium to witness his farewell.
Messi has already joined the squad and trained ahead of the match. For Argentina, the result will matter far less than the occasion itself, one final appearance for the player who has defined an era of their football.
For Benin, meanwhile, the match offers a rare opportunity to share the pitch with one of the greatest players the game has produced.
From Diego Maradona to Messi, Argentina have been fortunate to have generational figures carry their shirt. On Wednesday, Messi will take his final bow and leave the next chapter of Argentine football to those who follow him.
UNI TB RSA
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