Lionel Messi Named in Argentina Squad for Expected International Farewell
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s squad for a friendly against Benin on October 6, a match expected to mark the end of his international career.
The 39-year-old forward announced his decision to retire from Argentina duty last month after a remarkable international career spanning around two decades.
Messi helped Argentina win the Copa America in 2021 and 2024 before leading the team to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.
Messi Set for Final Argentina Appearance
Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia confirmed that Messi had been invited to participate in the farewell match at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The stadium, home of River Plate, has a capacity of around 85,000 spectators.
Tapia also invited members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad to attend the occasion and join Messi in what is expected to be a special celebration of his international career.
If he plays against Benin, Messi will make his 208th appearance for Argentina. He is already the national team’s leading goalscorer with 125 goals.
Argentina’s Upcoming Friendlies
Before the Benin match, Argentina are scheduled to play two other international friendlies.
The world champions will face Bolivia in Cordoba on September 30, followed by a meeting with Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.
The Bolivia fixture will be Argentina’s first match since their reported 2026 World Cup final defeat against Spain.
Messi has been selected for the third game against Benin, where he is expected to make his final appearance for the national team.
Messi’s International Career
Messi’s decision comes after more than 20 years of international football.
During his career with Argentina, he won two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup, ending a long wait for the national team to claim football’s biggest prize.
He previously said that ending his Argentina career was an emotional decision but that he believed the timing was right.
The forward has also faced personal challenges in recent weeks following the death of his father, Jorge, last month.
Messi had previously indicated that he had serious doubts about continuing to play football for much longer.
Argentina Face Disciplinary Restrictions
Argentina’s upcoming home fixtures will also take place against the backdrop of FIFA disciplinary measures.
FIFA recently ordered Argentina to reduce stadium capacity to 50 percent for their next home match following breaches of its disciplinary regulations concerning demonstrations considered unrelated to sport.
The restrictions followed an incident after Argentina’s World Cup semi-final victory over England in July, when several players displayed a banner referring to the Falkland Islands.
Some Argentina players are also serving suspensions connected to incidents following the team’s World Cup final defeat against Spain.
Leandro Paredes received a 10-match suspension, while Nahuel Molina was banned for seven matches and Thiago Almada received a one-match suspension.
Messi’s Club Future
Although Messi is preparing to end his international career, he remains under contract at Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.
His current deal with the American club runs through the end of the 2028 season.
