Preparations are in full swing in Buenos Aires for Lionel Messi’s international farewell, with Argentina set to face Benin at the Monumental Stadium on Tuesday. More than 85,000 fans are expected to attend as Argentina prepares to honor one of the greatest players in football history.
Messi has already joined his teammates in training, while coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to finalize his plans during Monday’s final session. After resting Messi for Argentina’s previous two friendlies, Scaloni is likely to bring several experienced players back into the starting lineup for the farewell match.
Messi did not play in Argentina’s 4-0 victory over Bolivia or the subsequent 7-0 win against Burkina Faso. He was included specifically for the Benin match, which is expected to be his final appearance for the national team. Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolás Otamendi were also included in the squad despite not featuring in the earlier matches, with the occasion intended to give several veterans a final opportunity to play alongside Messi.
Argentina head into the farewell in excellent form. They opened the international window with a 4-0 victory over Bolivia before producing an even more emphatic 7-0 win against Burkina Faso. Scaloni used both matches to give opportunities to younger players as he continues to shape the team for the next generation.
But against Benin, the focus will be firmly on Messi rather than experimentation. The match is expected to feature a number of the players who have shared the field with him throughout Argentina’s most successful era. TyC Sports reports that Scaloni is considering a lineup built around many of the players from Argentina’s recent World Cup campaigns.
Messi’s international legacy is extraordinary. He has won six major titles with Argentina: the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the 2008 Olympic gold medal, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup. He is also Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, with 125 international goals.
Benin, meanwhile, arrive with confidence of their own. The West African side recently defeated Mauritania 2-1 in Abidjan, a result that moved them to the top of Group F in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Benin have four points, level with Burkina Faso.
Coach Gernot Rohr largely retained the team that featured in the previous match, with Raphael Aloko making the difference by scoring twice. Mauritania pulled one goal back, but Benin held on for the victory.
Argentina and Benin will meet at the Monumental on Tuesday, October 6, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. local time. In Bangladesh, the match will begin at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7.
Messi’s most recent appearance for Argentina on home soil came on March 31, when he scored in a 5-0 victory over Zambia at La Bombonera.
Now, he is set to return to the Monumental for one final appearance in Argentina’s colors. The match against Benin may officially be a friendly, but for Argentina and football fans around the world, it will serve as the emotional closing chapter of one of the greatest international careers in the sport.
Argentina’s Probable XI vs. Benin
Emiliano Martínez; Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico or Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez.
TyC Sports reports that Tagliafico’s availability remains uncertain because of a minor injury, while Facundo Medina could again fill the position. Agustín Giay is expected to start at right-back, with De Paul returning to midfield alongside Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister. Up front, Messi is likely to be joined by Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez.
