At Argentina’s Ezeiza training complex, Lionel Messi’s final matchday with the national team began with an academic honour rather than a ball at his feet. The University of Buenos Aires awarded the captain an honorary doctorate on Tuesday, hours before his farewell appearance for the Albiceleste at the Monumental.
Key takeaways
- Messi was presented with an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Buenos Aires at the Argentine Football Association’s Ezeiza site.
- The distinction was unanimously approved by the university’s Superior Council.
- Argentina’s captain will make his final international appearance against Benin at 20:00 local time on Tuesday.
- The Monumental fixture concludes a three-match friendly series in which Argentina beat Bolivia 4-0 and Burkina Faso 7-0.
An honour before the farewell
Messi received a medal and diploma from UBA rector Ricardo Gelpi and vice-rector Emiliano Yacobitti, with Argentine Football Association president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia also present at the ceremony.
The university recognised the forward’s sporting career alongside the values it associated with him: excellence, persistence, humility and ethical conduct. His commitment to representing Argentina was also central to the award.
Yacobitti described Messi’s journey as one marked by talent, work and overcoming adversity, before greeting him as “Doctor Lionel Andrés Messi” and welcoming him into the public university community.
Messi said the recognition was something he had never expected. He spoke of his pride at receiving an honour outside the usual boundaries of football, while acknowledging that it still reflected what he had done in the sport.
Monumental evening closes Argentina chapter
The ceremony added another emotional layer to a day already carrying the weight of Messi’s goodbye. Argentina face Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium at 20:00 local time, which is 01:00 in Spain.
Messi said the occasion would be difficult but that he intended to enjoy it. He explained that he had felt calm, although the nerves had grown as kick-off approached, and said beginning the day with the university award made the farewell even more meaningful.
The Benin match ends Argentina’s run of three friendlies. The world champions have already recorded commanding wins over Bolivia, 4-0, and Burkina Faso, 7-0, before the last home occasion for their captain in national colours.
