Buenos Aires is preparing for a final appearance beneath the Monumental lights. Lionel Messi will return to Argentina duty for a farewell exhibition against Benin in the early hours of Wednesday, bringing an international career spanning more than 26 years towards its close.
Key takeaways
- Argentina face Benin at 1am on Wednesday in their third friendly of the international break.
- Messi missed Argentina’s first two matches during the current window before joining the squad for his goodbye.
- The captain is set to end his Argentina career with 207 appearances, 125 goals and the 2022 World Cup.
- More than 80,000 supporters will fill an already sold-out Monumental Stadium.
- Adidas has designed a special Argentina shirt for Messi’s final international outing.
A last night at the Monumental
The match against Benin is expected to be a ceremonial occasion rather than a major sporting test. Messi, Argentina’s long-standing captain and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, will make what is billed as his final appearance for the Albiceleste after sitting out the opening two fixtures of the break.
His departure from international football comes after Cristiano Ronaldo’s abrupt exit from national-team duty, with Messi now preparing his own formal farewell to Argentina supporters.
Messi’s record for his country stands at 125 goals in 207 caps. The defining prize arrived in Qatar in 2022, when Argentina beat France after a 3-3 final that was settled 4-2 on penalties. Across his career, he has also scored 76 direct free-kicks.
A shirt made for the occasion
For the Benin game, Messi will wear a one-off Argentina kit created by Adidas. The back of the shirt will feature gold detailing and the Argentine sun emblem at its centre.
It will be the last time he steps onto the Monumental pitch wearing Argentina colours, with the stadium sold out for an audience expected to exceed 80,000 fans.
