Buenos Aires is preparing for an occasion that reaches beyond a friendly match: Argentina’s 6 October meeting with Benin is set to be Lionel Messi’s farewell appearance for the national team, with a commemorative shirt already planned for the captain’s final bow.
Key takeaways
- Argentina will face Benin on 6 October in Messi’s expected final international match.
- A special jersey has been prepared to mark the captain’s departure.
- Giuliano Simeone described the occasion as both deeply emotional and sad for the country.
- Gianluca Prestianni said Argentines are not ready for a national side without Messi.
- Cristian Romero said the squad intend to give Messi an enjoyable send-off.
A farewell felt across the squad
The sense of occasion was clear as Argentina players arrived in the capital. For Messi’s team-mates, the fixture is not simply a closing date on an international career, but the departure of the player who has delivered so much joy to supporters across the country.
Giuliano Simeone said he hoped the day would never end, calling it a special but inevitably painful farewell to a captain who has meant so much to Argentina. The Atlético Madrid forward also offered warm words for Julián Álvarez during his conversations with reporters.
Prestianni, who was involved in an incident with Vinícius Júnior during last season’s Champions League, admitted he has tried not to dwell on the scale of Messi’s goodbye. He said the prospect affects him personally as well as the wider Argentine public, adding that he could scarcely believe he would be present for Leo’s farewell.
Romero ready for a new responsibility
Cristian Romero also spoke of the strange reality awaiting the world champions once Messi is no longer part of the international set-up. The defender said the players would make sure their captain enjoyed the occasion, as they have done throughout their time together.
Romero noted that Messi’s departure feels especially surprising after the remarkable World Cup he produced for Argentina. With the Tottenham defender expected to become the side’s first captain, the Benin match may also signal the beginning of a different leadership era for the Albiceleste.
For now, though, the focus in Buenos Aires is on one final night for Messi: a special shirt, a grateful squad and a country preparing to say goodbye to its defining modern football figure.
